Tag: Animal Cruelty

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Wednesday, September 24, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that a man was charged with felony animal cruelty, first-degree residential burglary and vandalism for allegedly breaking into his former roommate’s home and violently beating the victim’s small dog and throwing it off the balcony onto a nearby construction site, where it was found dead.

Anmol Bhatia, 27, of Los Angeles was charged in case 25ARCF01933 with one felony count each of first-degree residential burglary, animal cruelty and vandalism $400 or more in damage or destruction of property.

It is further alleged that the Bhatia committed a violent crime against the vulnerable: the victim was at least 65 years old, a fact the defendant knew or should have known.

The incident transpired on September 4, deputies with the LASD West Hollywood Station responded to the 1200 block of Harper Avenue regarding burglary call at 11:36 p.m.

Bhatia allegedly broke into his ex-roommate’s apartment in West Hollywood and killed the animal. The defendant is allegedly captured on video violently slamming the victim’s dog to the ground and stomping on it, before throwing the nonresponsive dog off the balcony. The defendant also allegedly vandalized the victim’s property.

He fled the scene and was arrested on September 21 by officers with the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Bhatia was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty. The court set bail at $175,000. A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for October 9 in Department 31 of the Airport Courthouse. If convicted as charged, Bhatia faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, West Hollywood Station.

MALIBU—On July 3, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call from some hikers at Canyon Creek who found an abandoned German shepherd with zip-ties around his muzzle, and neck. The dog was left to die in the heat with no way to drink water or feed himself.

The couple that found the dog freed him from the binding zip-ties. Reports indicate that the canine has since been brought to a dog rescue and checked out by a veterinarian. He is a 7 year old German Shepherd. Reports indicate that the dog may have had other health issues.

Canyon News reached out to the animal rescue group believed to be caring for the dog for more information, but did not hear back in time for print. This article will be updated as soon as possible

Animal welfare groups have offered a $7,600 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this act of animal-cruelty.

According to, California Penal Code [CPC] §597(a) – Animal Cruelty – Penal Code §597(a) makes it a crime to intentionally maim, mutilate, torture, wound, or kill a living animal. Violation of CPC §597(a) can result in three years in a state prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both a prison term and a fine.

By Sharon