YouTuber investigated after video appears to show her hitting, spitting on pet Doberman

LOS ANGELES (WGHP) -- YouTube star Brooke Houts is the subject of a police investigation over a video that appears to show her abusing her Doberman.

Los Angeles Police Officer Rosario Cervantes said the department's animal cruelty task force is looking into the matter but didn't offer further details.

Houts posted the video to her YouTube channel, which has more than 330,000 subscribers. The video has since been taken down, though it's unclear whether that was done by her or by YouTube.

However, viewers shared the video on social media, where it drew widespread criticism.

In the 50-second video, Houts says she is attempting to prank her dog. “I put plastic wrap on the door. I'm gonna have him run out,” she says. “We're just gonna see what he does.”

The video cuts, and Houts is then heard asking, “it doesn't faze you?” The dog jumps on her chest, and she responds by slapping him across the face.

Later, Houts gets closer to the camera and engages in another altercation with the dog. She can be heard yelling “stop” and then appears to spit on the dog.

Toward the end of the video, the dog attempts to get close to Houts' face, and she appears to lunge toward him, pushing him across the room.