A Chihuahua that was tied with electrical wires and mistreated after going missing from his home in Santa Ana has been reunited with his family, and the man accused in the case has been arrested.

A witness reported seeing a man mistreating a small dog behind a business at 431 E. First St. Santa Ana Police said in a news release.

Authorities found the suspect, 28-year-old Jose Manuel Pantoja, standing over the dog. Pantoja, whom police described as a transient, was immediately taken into custody.

The dog was found with a bungee cord tied around his neck and chest and also had electrical wires around his legs, police said. The pooch had multiple injuries, including a fractured pelvis, and was taken to Orange County Emergency Pet Clinic in Garden Grove.

Pantoja, 28, told officers the dog did not belong to him and that “it was just following him around,” police said.

Pantoja gave no explanation for why he treated the dog this way. He was booked on suspicion of animal cruelty.

“He basically treated the dog like a soccer ball,” police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. He added that the suspect has a long criminal history and law enforcement officials had “dealt with him numerous times.”

Investigators eventually found the Chihuahua’s owners, who told police the dog had wandered out of their yard after someone accidentally left the gate open.

The family had been searching for their beloved “Max,” who is 10 years old, throughout the night.

Max was reunited with his family Tuesday morning. He visibly brightened when his owner walked into the room.

The dog’s owner, Stephany Chavez, said she was grateful to everyone who helped him.

“I didn’t think I would see him again, but here he is,” Chavez said. “I’m just thankful he’s OK and that his condition isn’t any worse.”

“To think that someone could do something like that, it’s just very upsetting. It’s not right,” she said. “He’s an animal. He can’t hurt anyone, especially a little one like this.”

Source: KTLA