Dog Walker Found Not Guilty Of Animal Cruelty: Danville

DANVILLE, CA — A jury has found a Danville dog walker not guilty of animal cruelty despite being caught on video kicking a couple's pooch.

Adam Vavrus, who was 37 at the time of his arrest in January on a charge of misdemeanor animal cruelty, was caught on video home surveillance in December appearing to kick and yell at a dog he was contracted to care for.

Vavrus was hired by Danville residents Dave Brown and Miranda Fulks to walk their dog Olly. Fulks hired Vavrus through the dog-walking app Wag!, and checked her security footage after he complained about her pet.

"Right behind that, came this enormous amount of anger. How could you do that?" Fulks said in a January interview.

Fulks brought the video to the Danville authorities, who viewed it and launched an investigation, said Lt. Doug Muse.

"We looked at it and recognized it as a crime," Muse said, adding that the case then was presented to the district attorney's office. Officials there agreed, and an arrest warrant was issued for Vavrus.

A Contra Costa County deputy district attorney said a Danville police officer had encountered Vavrus three months before the incident with Olly, according to FOX KTVU 2. "Several people at a dog park called police reporting Vavrus being aggressive with animals there," the news organization reported. "No crime was determined and Vavrus disputes the incident, but the officer felt it was enough to incorporate into Olly's case."