Dog injured after man ‘intentionally’ threw firework at him in Santa Ana, police say

A dog in Santa Ana, California was significantly injured after a man “intentionally” threw a lit firework at him over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The dog named Romeo was in the front yard when the male suspect drove up to a house in a Sedan and threw a lit firework inside the gate, the Santa Ana Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.

Video footage captured from the incident shows the dog sniffing the firework in curiosity before it explodes in his face, causing significant burns and bleeding.

Police said that Romeo’s injuries were fortunately non-life threatening, and his owners report he is recovering.

A spokesperson of the police department told USA TODAY Thursday that the suspect has been identified. It is not immediately known if any charges have been filed.

Authorities have requested anyone with information regarding the incident or the vehicle involved to contact the department at (714) 245-8383. The suspect’s car is described as a “4-door sedan appearing to be gold in color, black aftermarket wheels, aftermarket tail lights, black rear trunk spoiler, black gas cap, and rear tinted window.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dog recovering after man threw firework at him in Santa Ana