Burbank man arrested after allegedly violently shaking puppy while drunk

A Burbank man was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and public intoxication Friday after he allegedly tried to take pictures of his two-month-old Dachshund on an escalator while drunk, police said.

Witnesses saw the man, John Richard Fiers, 57, allegedly grab the puppy by his throat and shake him back and forth violently, according to Burbank Police Lt. Eddie Ruiz.

A witness intervened and took the puppy away from Fiers until police officers arrived on the scene -- the AMC 16 movie theater in Burbank -- just after 10 p.m.

The puppy did not appear to suffer from any major injuries during an examination at the Burbank Animal Shelter, police reported.

Fiers was released after posting $20,000 bail and is due in Los Angeles County Superior Court later this month.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, Times Community News

Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.