Outrage as video shows animal control officer mistreating dog in Bakersfield

I had tears in my eyes when I saw the video. Knowing these dogs and knowing how sweet and gentle they are, it is completely unacceptable for a dog to be treated like this.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) – Courtney Clerico, executive director of a nonprofit rescue organization called Foster Tales, is one of the viewers of the viral videos on Facebook that caught the attention of hundreds of concerned locals.

Videos sent to our newsroom multiple times show an animal control officer abusing a dog near an orchard at Fairfax and Muller streets in southeast Bakersfield.

In the first video, the dog moves away from the officer and at one point looks as if it had been hit. In the second video, the officer can be seen dragging the dog into his truck.

More than 400 people commented on the Facebook post sharing the video, and everyone reacted the same way: angry, unhappy, and looking for ways to take action.

Clerico cares for dogs from animal shelters throughout the county, especially dogs of the Great Pyrenees breed.

“They are often extremely docile, sweet and friendly to humans, and there is absolutely no excuse for treating these incredible creatures this way,” Clerico said.

Kern County Animal Services told Eyewitness News that the officer responded to an incident that occurred over two days, starting Wednesday through Thursday.

“What these animal control officers face as they work on the front lines of this crisis is daunting, and we must ensure they have resources and help available to ensure they remain mentally healthy. “It doesn’t excuse the behavior we see in the video, but it shows how overworked these people are,” she added.

Kern County Animal Services also said there were two dogs total, but only one appears to be seen in the video.

They released a statement on their Facebook page addressing the community that the dogs were safe, not injured and in their care.