$5,000 Reward to Find Man Who Allegedly Fatally Beat Small Dog

A $5,000 reward was being offered to find a man who police say viciously attacked a small dog in Boyle Heights and left its body in the street.

In the afternoon of May 14, a witness reported seeing small dog jumping out of a van in the 1600 block of East First Street and the driver chasing after it on foot, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The man caught the dog and allegedly punched the animal, then repeatedly slammed it onto the sidewalk until the dog died, the LAPD said. The man got back into the van and drove off, leaving the dog behind.

The driver was described as about 50 to 60 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall and 280 pounds. He had gray hair and was balding.

A witness snapped a photo of the van, police said. It appeared to be a gray 1996 to 2000 Dodge Caravan with an off-color rear bumper.

PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man.

"This little dog endured an agonizing, terrifying death when his head was bashed against the sidewalk by a disturbed and violent man," said PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange in a news release. "PETA is urging anyone with information about this man to come forward now so that he can be held accountable for his crimes and stopped from hurting anyone else."