In West Roxbury, a Ring camera captured what no animal should ever endure: a woman striking a dog repeatedly on a neighborhood porch. The dog had approached wagging its tail, only to be hit over and over before being dragged away on a leash.

This video has left neighbors horrified. One resident put it simply: “I don’t understand how somebody could do something like that to a defenseless animal.” The dog’s tail was wagging in hope and trust — and was met with violence instead.

Boston residents are demanding answers. Who is this woman? Why is her face blurred in the footage if the public is being asked to help identify her? And most importantly: where is this dog now, and is it safe?

Animal abuse is never a private matter. It’s a crime — one that leaves animals traumatized and communities shaken. Research has long shown that violence against animals can be linked to wider patterns of abuse. To ignore this is to allow cruelty to fester in silence.

Boston must act decisively. This means locating the woman seen in the footage, ensuring the dog is immediately removed from harm, and prosecuting this case under Massachusetts’ animal cruelty laws. Anything less sends a dangerous message that abuse can be ignored if it happens behind closed doors or on quiet neighborhood streets.

We call on Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) to act immediately: identify the woman in the video, protect the dog, and bring criminal charges for animal cruelty.

This case isn’t just about one dog. It’s about whether Boston is willing to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves. Our city must show that animal cruelty will never be tolerated, no matter where it happens or who commits it.