Man faces animal cruelty charges after injured, abandoned dog found in DC

WASHINGTON — Surveillance video captured a man striking, pulling and abandoning a dog in a Northeast D.C. parking lot earlier this month. Now, the Humane Rescue Alliance said the dog has been treated for severe injuries, and the man was arrested this week.

James Johnson, of Laurel, Maryland, was first arrested by Prince George’s County sheriff’s deputies on several charges, according to the Humane Rescue Alliance; once resolved, he’ll be arraigned in D.C. on animal cruelty charges.

The animal welfare group said it received a call Jan. 4 about an abandoned dog at Skip’s Liquors and Laundromat in Northeast. Four different people gave similar tips, and a witness confirmed Johnson as the man in the video.

The dog had injuries to all four legs; when it was brought in for medical treatment, one of its digits had to be amputated and a leg may also need to be amputated.

The Humane Rescue Alliance said the dog is now recovering from the injuries.

The Humane Rescue Alliance said it received a call Jan. 4 about an abandoned dog at Skip's Liquor and Laundromat in Northeast. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
The Humane Rescue Alliance said it received a call Jan. 4 about an abandoned dog at Skip’s Liquor and Laundromat in Northeast. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
Surveillance video captured a man striking, pulling and abandoning a dog in a Northeast D.C. parking lot earlier this month. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
Surveillance video captured a man striking, pulling and abandoning a dog in a Northeast D.C. parking lot earlier this month. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
 Now, the Humane Rescue Alliance said the dog has been treated for severe injuries and the man has been arrested this week. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
Now, the Humane Rescue Alliance said the dog has been treated for severe injuries, and the man was arrested this week. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
The dog had injuries to all four legs; when it was brought in for medical treatment, one of its digits had to be amputated and a leg may also need to be amputated. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
The dog had injuries to all four legs; when it was brought in for medical treatment, one of its digits had to be amputated, and a leg may also need to be amputated. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
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The Humane Rescue Alliance said it received a call Jan. 4 about an abandoned dog at Skip's Liquor and Laundromat in Northeast. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
Surveillance video captured a man striking, pulling and abandoning a dog in a Northeast D.C. parking lot earlier this month. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
 Now, the Humane Rescue Alliance said the dog has been treated for severe injuries and the man has been arrested this week. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)
The dog had injuries to all four legs; when it was brought in for medical treatment, one of its digits had to be amputated and a leg may also need to be amputated. (Courtesy Humane Rescue Alliance)

Teta Alim

Teta Alim is a Digital Editor at WTOP. Teta's interest in journalism started in music and moved to digital media.

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