Caught on Camera: Chino Hills Man Accused of Beating Cocker Spaniel

Brothers filmed a neighbor poking and hitting a dog with a stick multiple times

The life of a dog may have been saved by two Chino Hills brothers and their quick actions with a video camera.

Qihui Zhai, 21, was charged with one count of felony animal cruelty after allegedly being caught on video in May beating his dog, according to a press release by the Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA.

The brothers, aged 12 and 14, heard what sounded like pained animal noises coming from their neighbor's house and went to the window to investigate, according to the release. While at the window the children saw a man beating his three-year old Cocker Spaniel, "Mookie" and pulled out their video camera to record the violent action.

In the video released by the Inland Valley Humane Society, a man can be seen poking and hitting a dog with a stick multiple times and one of the boys can be heard saying "I bet you he beats it every day."

The mother of the brothers called the humane society while her children were taping the beating and an officer from the organization was dispatched to the scene.

When the officer arrived, he found the dog in a neglected state and kept in unsanitary conditions, according to the release.

Beth Les, supervisor of field services for the humane society, said Zhai denied the accusations when confronted with the video evidence.

"I have seen many videos where (abuse) is caught on tape," Les said. "Where people think that nobody is watching or recording them."

Les said, however, that this was her first experience where abuse was recorded so clearly and obviously.

The officer proceeded to take the dog to the humane society shelter where it was examined and treated by a veterinarian.

After a brief period on hold, Mookie was adopted into a new home last week.

The charge of animal cruelty carries with it up to a $10,000 fine and possible jail time of up to one year.

Zhai is due to be arraigned in the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court on June 30, according to the San Bernardino’s District Attorney Office.

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