Homeless man kicks tiny dog in Venice

LOS ANGELES - A tiny dog remains hospitalized in critical condition after a stranger gave him a hard kick in front of multiple witnesses Wednesday in Venice.

The man, believed to be homeless, was later identified as 39-year-old Michael Langman. He was seen in a surveillance camera walking up to the small elderly Yorkie and then kicking the dog, sending "Bart" flying into the metal claws of a nearby tractor.

The horrifying attack left the owner screaming for Bart.

"I saw him lying rigid," said Laura Michele Rosenfeld.

A good Samaritan ran in to help revive Bart, who is 15.

Now, Laura has doubts whether Bart can make it out of the animal hospital.

"He's not walking. He will not stand on either his front or hind legs. One of his eyes looks very not right and his nose is is pushed to the side," she said.

A GoFundMe page has since been launched as the dog fights for his life.

"From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone for helping me save my doggie. He has a very long road of recovery ahead but I will be with him every step of the way and I'm touched by the amount of support," the fundraiser page read.

Langman is also accused of hitting another person over the head with a glass bottle Wednesday, according to police. Langman was chased down by multiple witnesses and held until police took him into custody. 

He was booked for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and officers located footage of the dog being kicked and entered it into evidence, police said.

Langman was being held without bail at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Inmate Reception Center, according to sheriff's inmate records.

City News Service contributed to this report.