PORTLAND, Ore. — The dog seen being abused by a 25-year-old in a Northeast Portland apartment building remains missing, and both police and PETA are still searching. The man, Issac Justham, was indicted by a grand jury Friday on multiple cases of animal abuse, after previously pleading not guilty, according to the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office.
The true bill of indictment included four counts of first-degree aggravated animal abuse and four counts of second-degree animal abuse.
He had been arrested last Saturday after a wave of community tips after surveillance video was released by Portland police. In the video, in early August, Justham appeared to be hitting a small, black dog with a rope numerous times while in an elevator, then hanging it from a fire extinguisher and kicking it.
Police said Justham hasn't been cooperative about sharing the dog's whereabouts; a spokesperson told KGW police believe and hope the dog is still alive.
PETA said it is offering a "reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and safe recovery" of the dog.
“This dog is surely frightened and traumatized and may have sustained serious injuries,” said PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien in a press release. “PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately so that this dog can get the care he or she urgently needs.”
Anyone with information about the dog’s whereabouts may contact Detective Matthew Brown at matthew.brown@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 24-803427.