AUSTIN, Texas — Austin police arrested a man for animal cruelty after a video was circulated on social media showing a dog being abused at a downtown apartment complex.
APD arrested 35-year-old John Kaschak on Thursday after an investigation into the video and reports from community members.
The video appears to show a man restraining a dog against a balcony railing and striking the animal. CBS Austin has chosen not to share the video due to its graphic nature.
Police initially responded to an Animal Urgent call on Sunday at the SEVEN Apartments at 615 W. Seventh St. after receiving a complaint from a resident and tips regarding the video.
The dog, called Boone, was seized during this without incident and taken to the Austin Animal Center for evaluation and safekeeping.
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A comprehensive investigation involving reviewing evidence, interviewing residents and assessing the dog’s welfare led investigators to move forward with an arrest.
Kaschak now faces a Cruelty to Animals charge, a third-degree felony, police say. He is currently being held at the Travis County Jail on a $7,500 bond, according to jail records.
Police say Boone will remain in the care of Austin Animal Services pending the outcome of the case. APD says that Boone is generally in good health, and staff are working with him to help him feel safe.
APD also says that Boone will not be available for adoption or foster placement until the case concludes.
Kaschak was an employee at American Ventures, a commercial real estate investment firm based in Austin. On Monday, Shravan Parsi, the company’s CEO, announced that Kaschak was no longer employed by the company after the video began to circulate online, calling Kaschak’s alleged actions “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”
“Those of us who own and love pets understand the central role they play in our lives and in our families,” Parsi said. “The behavior shown in the video does not reflect our values and is not something we condone under any circumstances.”
In a later statement, the company said that they were actively trying to determine Boone’s whereabouts so that they could contribute to his care, saying the company feels “a responsibility to help where we can.”