HESPERIA — Officials announced Friday that an incident regarding a dog at the Hesperia Animal Shelter will be turned over to law enforcement for a criminal investigation.
A media alert by the city of Hesperia said that after the city was made aware of a graphic photo on Tuesday, it conducted an internal inquiry to determine the origins of the photo and sought specific information related to the incident.
After staff on Thursday disclosed that the photo was taken in 2013 and based on information discovered through its internal inquiry, the city determined that authorities should be called in.
"Because an investigation into staff conduct and shelter procedures was recently concluded based on an incident in February 2015, the date of the photo may be important," the city alert said. "The date of the photo, however, does not make the image any less disturbing."
The photo, widely distributed online, shows a white and brown dog that appears to have some blood on a portion of its legs. The photo also reveals a puddle of blood near the dog's mouth and hind leg.
The city said it is prepared to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in their investigation and that Hesperia remains committed to providing compassionate care to the animals at the Hesperia Animal Shelter and to finding families for homeless pets.