A video circulating on social media has drawn criticism of a Beaumont animal control officer after it appeared to show him using excessive force while handling a dog.
The footage, recorded on Aug. 22 at around 3 p.m. at 1025 E. 6th Street in Beaumont, was originally shared by Nikkie Thompson, who works at a local business, and later reposted by The Animal Hope & Wellness Foundation and other accounts.
According to Thompson, the dog, estimated to be under a year old, had wandered onto the business property. She provided food and water while waiting for animal control to arrive. In her account, when the officer arrived, he made dismissive and upsetting remarks about the dog and reacted angrily when she recorded his actions.
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The video shows the officer using a control pole — a long implement with a metal cable loop that fits around a dog’s neck, normally used to safely manage aggressive animals from a distance. In the footage, the officer not only drags the dog with the pole and applies excessive force, but also lifts the animal using the pole and throws it into the vehicle…