WILLIMANTIC, Conn. (WTNH) — The Willimantic man accused of beating a dog with a baseball bat is now facing felony animal cruelty charges.

Animal advocates reached out after 35-year-old Luis Perez was only charged with a misdemeanor.

A Ring home security camera captured the incident in July. You can see a man striking the Rottweiler, named Grizzly, with the bat. Police say that man is Perez.

The video below is from a previous newscast on March 29, 2022. WARNING: It may be difficult to watch.

Perez was in court on March 29 and signed the dog over to the state.

His landlord sent News 8 photos revealing how dirty the house was when he moved out, and said there were warning signs.

“Some of the other tenants in the building had said ‘you know, I don’t think something’s quite right that he’s never here, the dogs never let out, I can hear noises through the walls,'” said Jennifer Murray. “Just think there needs to be some intervention and some consequence for him, because I think he takes it lightly and even in the arrest warrant, denied everything, ‘I never hit my dog. I tapped him on the butt with a newspaper once before.'”

Grizzly is doing well now and is up for adoption.