I was in tears watching that video. Knowing these dogs, and knowing how sweet and gentle they are, for a dog to be treated that way is completely unacceptable.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Courtney Clerico, the Executive Director of a rescue non-profit called ‘Foster Tales’ is one of the viewers of the viral videos on Facebook that attracted attention from hundreds of concerned locals.
The videos sent to our newsroom several times show an animal control officer mistreating a dog near an orchard on Fairfax and Muller roads in southeast Bakersfield.
In the first video, the dog is moving away from the officer and at one point looks like it was hit, the second video shows the officer dragging the dog into his truck.
More than 400 people commented on the Facebook post where the video was shared, and everyone’s reaction was the same… upset, unhappy, and looking for ways to take action.
Clerico is someone who fosters dogs from animal shelters across the county, especially this breed called Great Pyrenees.
“They are often extremely docile and sweet and kind to humans, and there is absolutely no excuse to be handling these incredible creatures like that,’’ said Clerico.
Kern County Animal Services told Eyewitness News that the officer was responding to an incident that happened over two days starting on Wednesday and going into Thursday.
“What these animal control officers are facing as they work the front lines of this crisis is daunting, and we need to ensure that there are resources and help available to them, to ensure they are mentally well. It does not excuse the behavior we see in the video, but it does highlight just how overworked these folks are,” she added.
Kern County Animal Service also said that in total, there were two dogs, but only one appears to be visible in the video.
On their Facebook page, they posted a statement, addressing the community that the dogs are safe, not hurt, and in their care.
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