Hunger Games actress Jena Malone says she witnessed a ‘scary’ and ‘abhorrent’ attack on a dog which resulted in her chasing down the man responsible.
Responding to an on the incident, the 37-year-old Donnie Darko star detailed in a series of tweets that she witnessed a man ‘repeatedly kicking a small dog’ and ‘yanking him up in the air and absolutely choking him’.
She recalled getting out out of her car to chase the alleged perpetrator before noticing a group of men also perusing him. After the man apparently refused to give up the dog, a reported brawl took place and the police were called.
‘The cops came and took the guy,’ she explained on Twitter. ‘I waited with dog til another cop came to take them to the hospital. The dog was covered in filth and looked like it had been not taken care of for months.’
She added: ‘I didn’t see the brawl but I was told that the man did not give up the dog without a fight.’
NBC reported that the Los Angeles Police Department had not filed charges against the group who allegedly attacked the man, but that he had been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty.
The dog, named Champion, was taken by animal control and has been returned to his owners.
Champion had been missing for five days and has suffered multiple injuries including broken ribs and a fracture in his chest during the incident, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for his veterinary bills, which Jena has shared on Twitter.
The GoFundMe page, created on behalf of Champs owner Kelly McKinney, has so far raised $7,450 (£5,700).
Meanwhile, Jena is currently filming Zack Snyder’s adventure drama Rebel Moon.
The film follows a people of a galaxy sending a young woman to seek out warriors from other planets to help them from the tyrannical armies that are terrorizing their peaceful colony. Joining Malone in the cast is Charlie Hunnam, Rupert Friend and Ray Fisher.
