Please help us identify this Venice Beach dog walker known to walk his dog south of the Pier down by the Marina Jetty Inlet. He assaulted a marine mammal rescue director yesterday as the man tried to ask him to remove his dog from the beach while conducting a rescue. The man assaulted him and we are trying to help identify the man so appropriate charges can be filed.
Marine Animal Rescue was founded and is operated by Peter Wallerstien. Peter has been rescuing injured sea life in our area for years. He loves all animals, and has witnessed many dogs attack injured animals over the years on beaches where animals are prohibited, and he has seen many dogs attacked by sea lions as well.
The second sea lion rescue of the day took place in an area where dogs have attacked a baby elephant seal, have forced a sea lion that wanted to beach because she was suffering seizures, back into the water and where birds have also been attacked by dogs. Unless otherwise designated, beaches in LA County do not allow dogs, either on leach or off. I love all animals, but I’ve seen too much negative interaction between dogs and marine life over the years. This location, in Venice Beach, just South of the Pier, is notorious for this. My concern is also for the dogs. I’ve seen the legs of dogs grabbed by sea lions. There are also transmissible diseases we need to be concerned about. I went to remind this citizen of the law. Most people get it when I explain the negative impact dogs (it’s really the humans accompanying the dog) have on marine life. This guy just didn’t want to hear it. After the assault, he walked away before Lifeguards and LAPD arrived on scene. I couldn’t follow because I had a rescue to conduct! Thanks to the video, he will be caught and I’ll push for assault charges.
The sea lion pup was resting on the Lifeguard tower. The sea lion pup was encouraged to walk down the ramp to the sand where the pup was successfully rescued.
Marine Animal Rescue Facebook Page
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