[Another article describes the dog as an 11 year-old Lhasa Apso.]
Police say witnesses reported seeing James Robert Wesolaski, 51, of the 1100 block of South Wolf Road, pinning a small, brown dog to the ground at about 3:20 p.m. on Thursday. He allegedly punched it “four or five times as hard as he could,” according to a police report.
When the alleged beating was over, one witnesses reported seeing Wesolaski pick up the limp dog “by the scruff of his neck” and take it inside the home, police said.
Wesolaski was bleeding from apparent dog bites on his hand and face when officers arrived, authorities said.
An officer allowed to enter his home allegedly found a dog in pain with swollen eyes that were bleeding, and broken eye capillaries which indicated it had been choked, according to police.
The man told police he was having a bad day and got into a fight with the dog because it ran out the front door, police said.
Police took the dog, along with two others inside the home, to the Northwest Animal Hospital in Des Plaines, where they were treated. Police were not sure of the dog’s age or breed, but it was believed to be in good condition. Officials at Northwest Animal Hospital declined comment.
Wesolaski appeared in bond court this morning, but further information was not available. He could not immediately be reached for comment and is scheduled to appear in Skokie court June 19.
(Tirbune Local - June 8, 2012)
