Ceres Police are seeking the arrests of two young men who allegedly beat up an 80-year-old man in west Ceres after an argument over the suspects' loose dog attacking his cat.

The victim, identified as Welba Arms, 80, of Ceres, was hospitalized with suffered fractured ribs and a large lump on the back right side of his head besides numerous bruises and abrasions on his chest and arms and a blackened left eye.

The attack occurred at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 in front of the man's house in the 900 block of Hackett Road. Maria Arms told police that her husband went outside to feed their cats in the front yard and returned minutes later after being punched and kicked. He said two Hispanic men in their early 20's, approximately 6 feet tall were walking a large German Shepherd which was not on a leash. The dog became aggressive when he saw the cats and ran towards them in the Arms' front yard. Arms told the men something like, "If your dog hurts my cats, then I'm going to hurt your dog." Arms turned around to stop the dog at which time he was shoved from behind. Arms fell to the ground and was assaulted by the two men with both men kicking and punching him all over his body.

Police believe the suspects live in the area or often frequent the area. Anyone who can help identify them are urged to contact Ceres Police investigators at 538-5727.