A man working at a Las Vegas dog training center has been arrested after undercover video showed brutal treatment of animals, authorities say. Local police seized dozens of dogs, criminal charges were filed, and federal immigration officials placed the suspect in custody. The case has become a rallying point for calls to enforce immigration laws and protect communities and animals alike.
The video that triggered the investigation came from a job applicant who secretly recorded disturbing scenes at the Working Dogs of Nevada facility. Law enforcement reviewed the footage and executed a search warrant that led to the removal of 35 dogs from the business. The allegations include kicking, dragging, shocking, and swinging dogs by their leashes.
John Young Cotter Johnstone, 38, was arrested and charged with multiple felony counts related to willfully and maliciously torturing, maiming, or mutilating companion animals. Tabitha Berube, 32, was also taken into custody and charged in connection with the same type of crime. Those arrests sparked immediate involvement from federal authorities because of Johnstone’s immigration status.
On immigration details, officials say Johnstone entered the United States in 2021 and overstayed his visa after February 2022. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer request following the arrest, and Johnstone was transferred to federal custody. From a Republican perspective, this case underlines why local cooperation with federal enforcement matters for public safety.
Some of the secret footage was aired by local TV and showed a man physically abusing a dog in view of the camera. DHS investigators also reviewed other clips that allegedly depict the use of shock collars and dogs being lifted by their leashes. The visual evidence convinced prosecutors and animal welfare officials to move quickly to protect the animals and pursue criminal charges.
‘This disgusting criminal tortured dogs at the shelter where he worked.’
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis offered a blunt statement about the arrests and federal action. “This disgusting criminal tortured dogs at the shelter where he worked,” she said. “Thanks to the cooperation of Clark County officials who honored the ICE detainer, this freak is in ICE custody,” she added. “Seven of the 10 safest cities cooperate with ICE. We need more state and local politicians to work with us to keep criminals off our streets and out of our country.”
The woman who recorded the alleged abuse later adopted two of the dogs removed from the facility, showing how citizens stepped up to help animals after documenting the crimes. “Seeing the use of the shock collars and the way the dog was screaming because he was being shocked and being drug across the floor, it was a horrible thing to witness,” she said about what she captured on video. “Everything in me, I wanted to tell them to not do that to an animal, but I knew if I did I wouldn’t be able to get the evidence that I did get,” she added.
Local prosecutors are relying on the recorded footage, witness statements, and animal welfare experts to build their case. The swift removal of the dogs and the criminal charges show how evidence from concerned citizens can propel investigations. For conservatives pushing law-and-order policies, the cooperation that led to an ICE detainer being honored represents the kind of local-federal teamwork they want to see more of.
Community leaders and animal advocates say the dogs now need medical attention and stable homes while the legal process plays out. The arrests leave questions about oversight at private animal training centers and the safeguards in place for animals in care. Lawmakers who favor stricter immigration enforcement argue this case reinforces calls for more consistent cooperation with federal authorities to prevent dangerous individuals from slipping through the cracks.
Prosecutors will move forward with felony charges and the animals will be cared for by shelters and adopters until final outcomes are decided in court. The public response so far combines outrage over the cruelty, relief that the animals were taken to safety, and a political push to tighten enforcement that defenders say will keep communities safer. For many, the images from the video remain a stark reminder of why vigilance, accountability, and cooperation between agencies matter.
