UPPER EAST SIDE — Witnesses called police when they saw a man beating his dog in broad daylight at the corner of Second Avenue and East 56th Street last week, the NYPD said.
A 51-year-old Upper East Sider was standing with his pit bull on the southwest corner of the intersection at 5 p.m. on Nov. 2, when he began kicking and punching the pup several times, making the dog yelp, witnesses told police.
He was arrested and his 4-year-old pit bull was taken to the ASPCA for evaluation, where it's still being held, according to officials. The ASPCA would not comment further on the condition of the dog.
The man was charged with torturing an animal and given a desk appearance ticket, requiring him to appear in court at a later date, before being released, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
Information regarding a lawyer was not immediately available.
