Athens man arrested for allegedly punching small dog

By Joe Johnson

An Athens man was arrested this week for allegedly punching a small dog at a home in east Athens, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report.

Officers responded Saturday to the home on Cone Drive on a 4:22 p.m. report by a resident that her 35-year-old nephew, Tamar Treyon Johnson of Nellie B Avenue, punched her small dog “Mabel” multiple times and that the dog was visibly injured and had vomited after being attacked, according to the report.

The woman reportedly told officers that she did not witness the incident, but her brother did.

The brother said that he was sitting on a couch with Johnson when the dog jumped up and laid down next to Johnson, according to the report.

“Tamar then began punching the dog,” striking the animal’s stomach four times with a closed fist, the report noted.

There was no mention in the report about whether Johnson made a statement concerning the incident.

He was arrested for misdemeanor cruelty to animals and was released from jail the following day on a $3,000 own recognizance bond.

The dog’s owner indicated that she would take Mabel to a vet to be checked out, according to the report.