Uber driver charged with beating Midtown passenger’s dog

An Uber driver has been charged with beating a Midtown passenger’s service dog, leading to a dislocated hip and knee injury that required surgery for the animal.

Muhammad Qayyum, 23, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and harming a service animal after an Uber passenger accused him of beating her terrier, the New York Daily News reported.

The passenger, 30, claimed that when she got into his car on West 56th Street, Qayyum told her, “I will not take your dog in my car,” DNA Info reported.

After refusing to transport the service dog, Qayyum allegedly took the leash from the woman’s hand and threw the animal to the ground, DNA Info added, referring to a complaint filed with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

Qayyum, though, has claimed that the passenger punched and verbally assaulted him, according to the Daily News.

The passenger immediately took her dog to a veterinarian in Hell’s Kitchen after the incident, DNA Info said, adding that an Uber spokeswoman said that Uber drivers are required to accommodate service animals.

“Any mistreatment of animals is abhorrent and we do not tolerate violent behavior on the platform,” the Uber spokeswoman told DNA Info. “The driver-partner and rider accounts have been suspended while we investigate this incident.”