ATHENS, Ga. — WARNING: This story contains details that are graphic or details that some may find graphic or disturbing
A man has been arrested after police say surveillance video showed him repeatedly beating a dog that later died near the University of Georgia campus.
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According to an Athens-Clarke County police report, UGA police initially encountered Justin Moore near the Sanford Stadium loading dock shortly after midnight on Aug. 25.
Moore was with three dogs and told officers one of them had vomited blood, suffered a seizure and died while he was trying to take it home. Officers saw blood around the dog’s mouth but did not initially see obvious injuries or signs of foul play.
Moore declined veterinary services and, with officers aware of the situation, took the dead dog to a wooded area off River Road, according to the report.
Hours later, UGA police reviewed additional campus security footage.
Police say the video showed Moore repeatedly assaulting the dog before its death. According to the report, Moore punched, kicked, stomped, dragged and hit the dog more than 20 times during an attack that lasted several minutes.
Additional footage reportedly showed Moore hitting the dog in the face and neck, dragging it by its collar and leash and repeatedly kicking and stomping it.
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Police said Moore eventually dragged the dog across a roadway and up stairs, slammed it onto the ground and threw it down a hill before continuing to strike it.
Officers later recovered the dog’s body from the wooded area off River Road and took it to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy.
The police report documented several injuries, including cuts, missing fur, injuries to the paw pads, facial injuries, bruising and blood around the mouth and eyes. The necropsy report was pending at the time of the police report.
A judge signed an arrest warrant charging Moore with felony aggravated animal cruelty.
Authorities later located Moore near S. Milledge Drive and S. Milledge Avenue. He was arrested just before 2 p.m., according to police.
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Two other dogs in Moore’s possession were taken into custody by Athens-Clarke County Animal Services.
Moore also told officers there was another dog inside his room at an InTown Suites. Officers and Animal Services found that dog inside the room, where police said it was limping significantly. The dog was taken for a veterinary evaluation.
Moore was also barred from the University of Georgia campus and transit system for two years following the incident.
Police said Moore was already on probation. His probation officer was notified of the new felony charge and subsequently reported an alleged probation violation to Cobb County and requested an additional warrant.
The aggravated animal cruelty case remains pending.