Puppy punched, dragged in gas station parking lot

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police have charged a man seen on surveillance video punching and dragging a puppy in a DeKalb County gas station.

The attack happened earlier in May at the BP gas station on 1736 Candler Road.

The puppy is happy and thriving now, but two weeks ago she was at the center of an animal cruelty case.

Channel 2's Liz Artz obtained surveillance video that police said shows Kirby Crane punching the dog in the face twice. The woman who was with Crane told officers the force of the blows could've knocked her over, police said.

Along with the animal cruelty charges, the man was forced to give up the puppy.

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Police think Crane was training the dog to be aggressive, and while her new owner said she's playful and sweet, she sees signs of previous abuse.

"There is some growling, there is some aggression there,” said the puppy’s new owner.

She said she brought Nala home to two other rescue dogs; a lab and another pit bull.

Channel 2 Action News stopped by the previous owner’s house to get his side of the story and no one answered the door.

Nala's owner said the puppy is really smart and has already learned so many tricks.

Cox Media Group