A dog trainer was arrested Saturday for allegedly beating a Belgian Malinois, and he was charged Monday with aggravated cruelty to animals, 7News reports.
According to the news source, Ryan Matthews, the head trainer and owner of Off Leash Dog Training in Colorado, was accused of severely beating a Belgian Malinois. An arrest affidavit stated that a surveillance video taken inside the kennel supported these allegations. 7News reports:
Investigators also found blood on the carpet and a hole in the wall. A witness said Matthews slammed the dog's muzzled nose into the sheetrock wall, causing the hole.
The witness reported she saw Matthews strike and kick the dog several times and even dog[sic] a "body slam." The witness called police on July 17, two days after witnessing the alleged abuse.
Examiner.com reports that the witness is an employee of the training facility, and when Animal Control arrived on the scene, they found the Belgian Malinois in a small cage, acting timid when approached.
Matthews has denied the allegations, and according to the arrest affadavit, a veterinarian checked the dog and found no neurological or skeletal abnormalities. The Off Leash website writes that Matthews "served in the U.S. Army for six years and has been training police and working dogs since 2002."
Unfortunately these aren't the only dog cruelty allegations to make news recently.
Last month, a man in Montana was accused of killing over 50 dogs during a standoff with police, and earlier this year, a Colorado couple who owned a sled dog kennel faced felony charges when dozens of their dogs were found in poor condition.
The Belgian Malinois is one of four types of Belgian sheepherding dogs, according to the American Kennel Club. Some reports suggest that a Belgian Malinois was used during the SEAL team raid of Osama bin Laden's compound.