Video allegedly shows Burlingame pet sitter abusing dog

BURLINGAME, CA -- A shocking case of animal abuse has surfaced in the Bay Area. A pet sitter on the Peninsula was caught on camera mistreating a small dog in her care.

The disturbing video shows a woman grabbing a little dog by the neck and carrying the scared-looking animal. The dog was then thrown to the ground. She then appears to punch the animal before taking it inside.

Warning this video is graphic.

Peninsula Humane Society investigator Christina Hanley said the alleged abuse was recorded by a neighbor using a cellphone camera. The woman in the video was running a small dog boarding and sitting business out of her home in Burlingame.

Hanley said, "This dog knew what was coming."

When asked what the Peninsula Humane Society thought of the video, Hanley responded by saying, "We were horrified, absolutely horrified."

Investigators suspect abuse of other animals had been going on for the past 10 years.

"Every time we would go out, the dogs didn't have any injuries," Hanley said. "So we couldn't act on complaints."

That is until now. Last month, dogs in her care were removed by the Humane Society and returned to their owners. The woman's name and her business have not been released until the district attorney reviews possible cruelty charges.

"Anyone who is a client of hers will readily, immediately recognize her," Hanley said.

In the meantime, investigators need to locate the dog, believed to be Chihuahua-Dachshund mix.

"We're hoping to identify the dog in this video so we can examine it for injuries," Hanley said.

Neighbor and dog owner Kristin Lorenz watched the video.

"Dogs are like kids and I have a child of my own, but that's just unacceptable," Lorenz said.

The woman's dog care business is closed. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call them.