Man Who Helped Rescue Abused Dog In Long Beach Honored With Courage Award

LONG BEACH, CA — Adalhi Montes was sleeping the morning of April 21 when he was suddenly woken up by the cries of an animal outside, according to authorities.

Sickened by the sound of the painful cries and unable to go back to sleep, the 33-year-old decided to check his security camera. That's when he saw a man abusing a German Shepherd puppy, slamming it against the ground and kicking it, according to prosecutors.

Montes posted the video online that day, garnering the attention of the media, Long Beach police and community members. Within a day, police arrested the man in the video and rescued the puppy.,

On Thursday, Montes was one of four people to receive a Courage Award from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, an honor, prosecutors say, that is given to people who demonstrate "heroism in extraordinary moments of crisis."

"These awards serve as a reminder to all of us that we can help others no matter how dire the situation," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement Wednesday. "The Long Beach community is a safer and better place because of the exemplary actions of these honorees, and my office is deeply grateful to them."

Inara, the puppy seen being abused in the video, was taken to Long Beach Animal Care Services, where medical personnel tended to her injuries. As of April, she was placed with a foster family who named her Rue.

The man caught abusing the puppy, Westminster resident Alexander Cueva, pleaded no contest to one felony count of animal cruelty and was sentenced to three years in state prison. He was also ordered not to have any animals for the next ten years.