Pet Dog Critically Injured After Man Kicks Canine 15 Feet Into Air

A man from Port Hueneme, California, was arrested Monday for kicking a dog “approximately 15 feet into the air.”

Police responded to the Hueneme Beach on Friday afternoon after receiving reports of a disturbance. Upon arrival, the officers saw Dylan McTaggert punching lifeguards. He then fled the scene on foot after seeing the officers. McTaggert was, however, caught after a short chase. Police said the man had approached a woman while she was walking her dog along the beach. He then kicked the canine into the air without any provocation. Following this, the dog fell unconscious.

The dog’s owner said it caused the canine's lung collapse and displaced its heart.

“She’s my kid so it’s been really really hard. Friday was bad, Saturday was bad. It took 24 hours before she recognized us… She’s wagged her tail a few times so it’s pretty exciting,” the owner said, adding that the animal is currently being cared at home.

Meanwhile, police said McTaggert lived along the illegal encampments on Ormond Beach. Local police have contacted him several times for disturbing the beachgoers. He was charged with fighting in public, assault on a lifeguard and animal cruelty and held at the Ventura County Jail on a $25,000 bail.

Port Hueneme Chief of Police Andrew Salinas said half the calls received by the police are transient related.

“We share the beach property line with Oxnard and Port Hueneme… These transients come over to the Port Hueneme beach area where we have a pier and facilities and end up ultimately harassing our beach goers. It’s very difficult to enforce right now because of the decriminalized laws in regards to some of our misdemeanors. They don’t stay in custody for very long…. It’s become a revolving door and it’s something we need to address sooner or later,” he said.

Anyone who witnessed Friday’s incident was asked to contact Port Hueneme Police Department at 805-986-6530.