Santa Ana Man Accused of Biting, Kicking Dog So Hard It's Unable to Walk

A 36-year-old man was behind bars Thursday on charges of biting, punching and kicking his dog in the city of Orange so badly it left the canine unable to walk, a prosecutor said.

Shane Jamal Gamache was charged Tuesday with a felony count of cruelty to animals. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to return to court Sept. 12 for a pretrial hearing.

Gamache and his girlfriend arrived home on Aug. 24 to find the dog, Yukon, had eaten some food left on a counter, Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Malone said.

Gamache decided the 7-year-old Siberian Husky required a "time out,'' so he flipped the canine on his back and told him to stay still, Malone said. When the dog attempted to move, the defendant alleged grabbed the pet and bit him on the nose and lips and returned him to a position on his back, Malone alleged.

Gamache punched the dog in the ribs and ordered Yukon to do the time out "or it gets worse,'' Malone alleged.

"The dog is whining throughout,'' Malone said.

The defendant then ended up also kicking the dog in the left ribs while Gamache sat on a stool overseeing the "time out,'' Malone alleged.

At another point, Gamache was "cussing'' the dog as he held its nose and kicked him several more times, Malone said.

Gamache is then accused of picking Yukon up by the legs and slamming him to the ground, Malone said. The defendant got on top of the dog, held his nose closed again and bit his face before punching him in the ribs again, Malone alleged.

Gamache is also accused of stomping on Yukon's throat and sitting on him and threatening to kill him before putting the pet in a chokehold with his arm, Malone said.

By then the dog couldn't walk and was gasping for air, Malone said.

Gamache and his girlfriend took the dog to a local veterinary service and he fled, Malone alleged.

Yukon has been referred to a dog neurologist to see if his ability to walk can be restored, Malone said.