BABY-SITTER JAILED AFTER TOSSING DOG; PUPPY THROWN INTO TRAFFIC.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A Lancaster baby sitter was arrested Friday after he tossed a 12-year-old's puppy into a busy street because the girl refused to get ready for school, officials said.

Marquis Tyrone Thomas, 22, was jailed on suspicion of animal cruelty after witnesses told deputies they saw him throw the 6-week-old puppy about 25 feet into the northbound lanes of 10th Street West.

A half-dozen cars swerved to avoid the black-and-white shepherd mix, which was knocked unconscious.

``The sixth car happened to be a deputy who saw the cars swerving and stopped to investigate,'' said Deputy Theresa Dawson. ``The first car that passed saw Thomas throw the puppy and stopped to pull him out of the street.''

Thomas told deputies he was baby-sitting a friend's 12-year-old daughter, who had brought the puppy home after school Thursday. Despite his pleas, the girl refused to quit playing with her puppy long enough to get ready for school, officials said.

Frustrated, Thomas told authorities he took the puppy outside and tossed it across both southbound lanes of the busy street.

Following his arrest on the felony charge, he was jailed at the Lancaster sheriff's station in lieu of $20,000 bail.

The puppy was transported to the on-duty veterinarian at the Los Angeles County Animal Shelter in Lancaster. The dog is expected to make a full recovery and will remain at the shelter until he is reclaimed by the owners.

``The prognosis is good,'' said animal control Sgt. Leslie Troncale. ``There doesn't seem to be any broken bones, and he's happy and very friendly.''