A Bronx man was arraigned on animal abuse charges Friday after police say he brutally beat a dog.
Raul Cruz, 43, is accused of attacking a 6-month-old pitbull mix named Henessey.
The dog is being treated at an ASPCA facility in Manhattan.
Police say they were called to East 167th Street in the Bronx by witnesses who say they saw Cruz punching the dog and attacking her with a shovel.
When they got there, they say they found the dog buried up to her head in snow.
One neighbor NY1 spoke with says Cruz had a reputation for treating the dog poorly, but never saw any signs of abuse.
"I've heard precariously from the other neighbors in my building that they have seen behavior with his pets, like picking him up and throwing him down, but I never saw that directly," the neighbor said.
Cruz is currently being held on bail. He's facing animal torture and cruelty charges.