DreamWorks animator accused of beating neighbor's dog with hammer

A 40-year-old DreamWorks animator pleaded not guilty Thursday to beating a neighbor’s muzzled dog with a hammer, an incident that was captured on video.

The man, Young Song, allegedly climbed the fence into a yard in the 1900 block of Navarro Avenue in Pasadena, where a 16-month-old German shepherd was muzzled but untied. Surveillance camera video shows the beating but does not reveal what Song did with the dog, which is missing and presumed dead.

According to authorities, Young shot the dog with a pellet gun, then returned with a hammer and began chasing and striking the defenseless animal until it lay senseless.

Industry sites identify Young as a "surfacer," an artisan who creates the look and surface qualities for animated characters, props and environments. Young's credits on animal-themed films include "Kung Fu Panda," "Shark Tale," "Bee Movie" and "Madagascar 2".

“When our officers first viewed the videotape, one of our officers had tears in his eyes. He’d never seen anything like this before,” said Steve McNall, who heads the Pasadena Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “In my 31 years at this animal shelter I’ve never seen anything like this.”

McNall’s agency, which is licensed to investigate crimes involving animals, is conducting the probe and made the arrest in conjunction with Pasadena police.

The dog’s owner returned to a bloody scene, and discovered that his dog was missing. The events were recorded on a newly installed security camera.

The motive for the attack is not yet clear, although there was a hole at the bottom of the fence adjoining the two yards, meaning that the dog could have been entering the suspect’s property.

“It might have originated as a barking issue, a noise issue, and then escalated into something else,” McNall added.

A man who lives across the street expressed surprise to the Pasadena Star-News when he learned who had been arrested.

"He's a very nice and kind person," said Paul Lofthouse, who described Song as a husband and father. "He has three dogs of his own and chickens in the backyard. It's a total surprise."
 
Song was being held on $40,500 bail, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The formal charges are one felony count of cruelty to an animal and one misdemeanor count of petty theft of a dog with a special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Alison Matsumoto. If convicted, Song could face more than four years in prison, the district attorney’s office said.

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Comments

[Rick]

Can't find the dig? Check his freezer.

[Cosmo Kramer]

In no way do I condone what happened to the dog. However, if this started as a barking animal complaint, I can somewhat understand the action. We have neighbors who have left dogs outside at night when they are gone or even over night and all they do is bark. This is a total lack of respect for the neighbors who cannot sleep and have to endure the incessant barking which continues all night long. We have enough of planes and helicopters flying overhead, chirped out teenagers cars that race through the neighborhood along with other traffic. This is a nuisance that is not wanted. We have spoken to the neighbors yet they do nothing to rectify the situation. I can then understand it when something happens to the house/animal that is causing the problem. Show some respect dog owners!!!!

[DJ Weston]

Grobsy, the felons NOT in prison have a soft spot for dogs as well...and they are good at finding people. Prison may be a safer alternative to being at large for a few years for Song.

[Al-Qaeda]

Mr. Song will become someone's "pet" behind bars.

[notapplicable]

A muzzled animal is defenseless perhaps the muzzle was on the wrong person. That is sometimes why we have city people that work in the city offices and to call them with a problem regarding these issues.

[thane ore1]

While I'll never codone any abuse of an animal. Why is he facing four years Califonification will not give four years for killing another human. I know most are barely higher food up from the dogs. Then I look at the hypcropisy from all from Califorinia about every thing from global warning to clearcut logging. And I wonder that right do as I say Not as I do.

[Steve]

If he could do this to a defenseless, yes, defenseless young dog then he is capable of much worse to those around him, an example should be made, I know that if I caught someone doing this to my dog, they wouldn't be sending the police, they would be sending the coroner.

[Bill]

I have a neighbor who has falsely accused my dog of barking for "hours and hours" - except that my dog was boarded at a kennel when I was out of town and the idiot was hearing the dog on the OTHER side of my house. Tried to talking to this guy but he was dead set on accusing me. There have been 3 attempts made on my dog's life, so now I have surveillance cameras and the dog has to stay inside when I am not home. And there is nothing the police can do unless I catch him on tape hurting or killing my dog - no thanks!

There is NO EXCUSE for attacking a dog like that, and after living with the nightmare that is my neighbor (he served time in prison for a felony) I hope this criminal is locked away for a long time.

[Alexander McLlocklelly]

A 16-month-old dog is no longer a puppy, as people are saying. And Dreamworks has nothing to do with the whole thing.

[sheila]

I don't think I need to say how absolutely horrible,sickening and disgusting this story and that "person" is! I'm sure we can all at least agree on that much!! What I don't understand, is why the comment "if he did this,what would he do to a human?" Is being said so frequently....it should be enough that he did this to an animal..a living breathing creature...a dog.....someones family member!! My pets are my children....I would stop at nothing to see someone suffer if they even attempted such an act on mine! As for the punishment for song, if left alone in a room....the torture I would inflict, is far to explicit for a message board. 4 years is ridiculous!! When someone kills another human...we don't take "motive" into consideration....why are laws for animals so minimal?!esp.something so heinous!....and oh yes of course...how could a childrens movie animator be so cruel?! How could a family man...a pet owner do such a thing!? Well....I've come to learn...that generally humans are capable of anything...are disgusting....and evil lurks behind any nicely painted door!! RIP Little one....yes a puppy...16 months old! <3

[Lili Mironov]

I think it IS important to mention where this Song guy is or rather was working after all.... Dreamworks (aka phantasy industry).... maybe all those fun animated movies depicting animals might have detached him from reality and desensitized him which then alarms me as to how much Tom & Jerry this brainwashed generation of ours can watch before trying out the same things with our real life cats and dogs.
Nonetheless, this is a most despicable, random and cowardly crime and justice must be served. Dreamworks should donate their next net gross to dog charities.

[FullStory??]

I'm in disbelief at how people can comment so vehemently on this situation when you really have only been presented with a few paragraphs of the whole story. I know this entire situation, and the dog was going after their animals constantly (and sometimes them) and barking non-stop. They requested that the owner do something on several occasions, and when he dismissed them, they reported the situation to a few authorities. It feels to me like he snapped, but when you plead for help from the police, local animal control and humane society folks and get nothing in return, I imagine it's difficult to not take matters into your own hands.

Yes, I am absolutely mortified that it happened, and it's an extreme reaction with some, in my opinion, misplaced anger (the owner probably should have been punched in the head). But Mr. Song is certainly a loving and wonderful husband and father, and a fantastic employee (although I definitely agree that work and place of business are totally irrelevant), so to judge THAT from this extremely biased article is ridiculous. Neighbor disputes can escalate out of control, and this one did. McNall should have it on record that they complained, and often, about the neighbors with the shepherd.

Think about this... why muzzle a dog when you're not home? Dogs need to pant to cool themselves. Well-behaved dogs don't need muzzles. Dog owners who care about their animals and are responsible for and to them know countless other methods to train and assist their dogs besides chucking a muzzle on them. And someone mentioned they shouldn't be afraid because of the muzzle... I have seen dogs work their way out of muzzles very quickly. They're not fool-proof. Food for thought, if you care to think about it.

I'm sure there will be some reactionary judgmental responses to this, as well, but please know that you are only getting a very narrow, tiny little piece of this picture from the media. And if you insist on persecuting Mr. Song before he receives his fair trial, I'm sure there will be torches and pitchforks on sale somewhere along your route... stock up!

[Dena]

We need to band together and get letters faxed or mailed to the Deputy District Attorney. Let them know how angry we are that we demand justice for this crime. This can NOT go unpunished and to the fullest extent of the law. Young is a 'loving' father? Are you kidding me?? Great example he has set for his children.