Several people called police Saturday afternoon saying a man was beating a dog at the Albany Skate Park, 1375 Sixth Ave. S.E.

The witnesses told police they saw him punching the dog, a pit bull puppy, over and over again. They also said they saw him choking the dog.

Officers went to the skate park and talked with an 28-year-old who said the dog had bit him hard enough to break the skin on his right hand.

He refused medical treatment but allowed an officer to wash out the wound and give him some gauze.

Police said the teenager was charged with disorderly conduct for the threatening way he responded to others at the skate park when they confronted him about hitting the dog.

Police said according to state law, someone must intentionally cause physical injury to an animal in order to be charged with animal abuse. The officers saw no physical injury to the dog.

AnneMarie Knepper