BRYAN, Texas — A Bryan man has been arrested after being accused of abusing a non-livestock animal.
Garrett Fleming, 20, is charged with two counts of animal cruelty. He's accused of repeatedly kicking a woman's dog in the face on one occasion and repeatedly punching it in the face on another occasion. The woman told police her dog was sleeping on the floor when Fleming attacked it.
Police responded to the woman's home just after 3 pm Wednesday. She said her roommate had sent her photos of her dog, Rizzo. Rizzo allegedly had severe bruising on its belly. The woman told police she had recently installed a video camera in her bedroom and watched some of the footage.
ALSO ON KAGSTV.COM: NEW VIDEO| Justice for Kona: Puppy Station in Post Oak Mall closed in wake of lawsuit
The woman told police Fleming came into her bedroom and approached Rizzo, who was sleeping in her dog bed. She said Fleming kicked Rizzo several times in the face while wearing leather work boots and made contact with the dog each time. She said the last kick Fleming did was delivered straight to the snout of the dog.
The woman told police she has other videos of Fleming abusing her dog. One of the responding officers watched the videos and said Fleming approached Rizzo without reason and began punching the dog in the face for nearly a minute, according to court documents. The officer also said Fleming can be seen on video holding down Rizzo's head on the bed and pulling on the dog's back legs until she squeals in pain. Fleming is also seen throwing Rizzo to the ground after picking her up by the scruff of the neck and dangling her in the air for several seconds, according to court documents.
The officer said Rizzo is a mixed breed and weighs about 60 pounds, according to court documents. When being attacked by Fleming, the officer said it looks as if Rizzo is "frozen with fear" and does not fight back or attempt to get away from Fleming.
Fleming is currently in the Brazos County Jail on $30,000 cash bond. In 2019, President Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, into law, calling the bill a "very important piece of legislation." This law makes specific acts of animal cruelty a felony offense. In Fleming's case, he's been charged with 3rd degree felonies.
