ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WM01698

Date: February 25, 2015

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR NEGLECTING TO CARE FOR DOG’S ENTANGLED LEG CAUSING DOG TO CHEW PART OF HIS OWN LEG OFF

WESTMINSTER – A man is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow on animal abuse charges for allowing his dog to become entangled in the backyard, causing the dog to chew a part of his own leg off. Samer Samir Ibrahim, 23, Westminster, is charged with one misdemeanor count of keeping an animal without proper care and one misdemeanor count of animal abuse by a caretaker. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Feb. 26, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-4, West Justice Center, Westminster.

Ibrahim is accused of owning and caring for an 11-month-old German Shepherd named Rocky. He is accused of only allowing the dog to remain in the backyard in conditions where the dog caught fleas and was significantly thinner than an average healthy German Shepherd.

Between Nov. 2, 2014, and Nov. 8, 2014, the defendant is accused of failing to properly care for Rocky by allowing the dog’s rear right foot to become entangled in the backyard of the defendant’s home for a period of time.

Ibrahim is accused of allowing Rocky’s leg to remain entangled, preventing adequate blood flow to the dog’s leg, causing Rocky to chew off approximately four to five inches of his leg that was entangled. The defendant is accused of attempting to treat Rocky’s severe injuries by wiping his injured leg with antiseptic wipes then covering it with a sock and failing to immediately take the dog to a proper veterinary facility.

On the afternoon of Nov. 9, 2014, the defendant is accused of bringing Rocky in to be treated at Orange County Animal Care (OCAC) in Orange. The staff at OCAC reported the injury to the Westminster Police Department, who investigated this case. Rocky was then transported to Alicia Pet Clinic in Mission Viejo for further treatment.

On Nov. 12, 2014, the veterinary staff at Alicia Pet Clinic performed surgery on Rocky to neuter him and amputate his rear right leg. Rocky’s operation and recovery were successful and he was later adopted by a new family.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Malone of the Environmental Protection Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718