A Boston woman was arrested after allegedly punching a young pit bull multiple times at an MBTA station, then spitting and kicking at responding police.
Pamela Tyler, 51, was arrested Thursday evening around 10:30 at the MBTA Dudley Station in Roxbury. Transit police say they saw her yanking forcefully on the leash of her dog, Mimi, after she attempted to lick the ground. Tyler then allegedly grabbed the dog by the head and struck her several times in the face.
Tyler says there's no way she'd abuse a dog she adores.
"It's a difference between discipline and abusing," Tyler told NBC Boston. "I'm going to wait to get the video and then I want a public apology."
But transit police say she went overboard Thursday night.
When the officers jumped in to help the dog, they say Tyler refused to cooperate, resisting both being handcuffed and being placed into a police cruiser.
They also say she was spitting at one officer and kicked another in the knee.
U.S. & World
"That's none of your business," Tyler said when asked if she spit and kicked at police.
Tyler was arraigned Friday on several charges, including animal cruelty, assault and battery on a police officer, and resisting arrest.
The dog is being cared for by animal control for the time being.
Tyler, who spoke to NBC Boston outside of her home after she left court, says she'll be fighting to get Mimi back.
"She sleeps with me, so how hard do you think that it's going to be for me not having her and not going to sleep with her, or underneath me, or licking me," said a tearful Tyler.
