ICYMI: Chelmsford Man Arrested for Allegedly Beating Dog

Editor's Note: A Chelmsford man's neighbors reported that he allegedly beat his 2-year-old pitbull named Champ. Here's the full story, in case you missed it.

CHELMSFORD, MA - A Chelmsford man was arrested for allegedly kicking and beating a dog in Lawrence, WHDH reported.

Damien Searles, 23, was arrested Saturday and charged with animal cruelty after neighbors said they saw him beating his 4-year-old pitbull named Blaze, WHDH reported.

• See the full report from WHDH>>>

Searle's mother, Jenny Foote, said Champ bit a 12-year-old visitor and chomped on her fingers as well. She displayed heavily bandaged fingers during the WHDH report.

Foote told WHDH her son disciplined the dog after getting him into a kennel during the alleged biting spree.

"He gave him a couple of smacks, nothing horrible," Foote told WHDH.

There were no visible injuries to the dog, according to the WHDH report.

Foote told WHDH she wants Blaze to remain in the family despite his tendency to bite.