Police Hunt California Woman Who Drove Over Puppy - Newsweek

California law enforcement officers are looking for a woman whom they believe intentionally drove over a puppy.

The Santa Ana Police Department has launched a public appeal for information in an animal abuse investigation.

The incident occurred on September 8, when the department’s Animal Services responded to the area of 900 W. Park Lane, where there was a deceased black-and-white pit bull mix puppy that appeared to have been run over.

The department shared an informational appeal on Instagram in which its public information officer, Natalie Garcia, confirmed that a local resident reported seeing a minivan parked near the location and, according to a statement from law enforcement, “believed the female driver intentionally ran over the puppy.”

Garcia said that animal services and police spent weeks canvassing the area for video surveillance before locating “the video that corroborated the reporting party’s statement."

In the clip, shared as part of their informational appeal, an individual opens the door of a vehicle, and the woman then removes the puppy from the minivan. The vehicle then drives over the puppy, and police said the car kept its wheel on the dog for about fifteen seconds.

The car then left the scene. The video footage does not capture a readable license plate.

Police are appealing to the public for information. Those with information are urged to contact the department at 714-245-8378.

Newsweek reached out to the Santa Ana Police Department outside of regular working hours via email for comment.

In the state of California, a person who intentionally kills a dog or an animal can face felony imprisonment or misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Animal cruelty is punishable by a fine of up to $20,000.

Penalties for animal cruelty differ across the country, but it is a crime in all 50 states. Oregon ranks as the top state for animal protection laws according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund. The ALDF began tracking animal protection laws 20 years ago and ranks each state based on the strengths and weaknesses of animal protection statutes. California ranks in the top tier.

The incident follows other headlines about allegations of animal abuse in California.

In June, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that they had found 117 dogs in various states of decomposition at Miranda’s Rescue Animal Sanctuary, an animal shelter in Northern California. The sheriff’s office said at the time that it started investigating the shelter after receiving "credible information" in April "regarding allegations of felony animal abuse, animal cruelty, fraud, and conspiracy."

No charges have been filed, and the owner, Shannon Miranda, has denied wrongdoing. The shelter briefly closed for violating county codes, but has now reopened.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Sam Wilson.