Peninsula Man Beats Dog, Faces Animal Cruelty Charges: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — A Peninsula man has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after he was allegedly spotted beating a dog, police reported this week. Rami Al-Zetawi, a 37-year-old San Mateo resident, was located kneeling next to an injured Husky, police said.

According to the San Mateo Police Department, officers were sent Friday to the 2700 block of South Norfolk Street on a report of a male subject beating a dog.

"San Mateo Police officers quickly arrived and located the suspect, Rami Al-Zetawi, kneeling next to an obviously injured Husky breed dog," police said in a news release. "Al-Zetawi claimed that he was the owner of the dog."

Police say they arrested the man and took the dog. It was ultimately taken by the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA for medical treatment, according to police. Animal shelter officials tell Patch that remained in their care as of Tuesday.

Image via San Mateo County Sheriff's Department