Man Charged for Allegedly Killing a Dog with an Ax

Man Charged for Allegedly
Killing a Dog with an Ax

March 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Joe Scott, Director of Communications
Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
(213) 974-3525

LOS ANGELES – Allegedly infuriated by his brother’s barking dog, a 36-year-old Los Angeles man was accused today of killing the animal with an ax late last week.

Deputy District Attorney Debbie Knaan, animal cruelty case coordinator, said Rudy Fernandez (dob 07/22/71) is charged in case No. BA337775 with one count of cruelty to an animal with a special allegation of personal use of a deadly and dangerous weapon. Fernandez is due to be arraigned this afternoon at Los Angeles Superior Court, Division 30.

The defendant was caring for the dog, a basset hound, for his brother who is incarcerated, said Police Officer Jeff Fischer of the Los Angeles Police Department Animal Cruelty Task Force.

For roughly 30 minutes, Fernandez tried to strangle the dog without success -- first with his hands and then by pinning it to the ground with his feet and placing a wood fencepost to its neck, Fischer said. The defendant then used the ax to strike the dog’s head, fracturing its skull and killing the animal.

Newton Division patrol officers found the bloodied dog in a trash bin when they responded to an animal cruelty investigation on March 13.

Deputy District Attorney Ashley Rosen of Central Trials was assigned to prosecute the case. Fernandez’ bail was recommended at $40,000. He faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison, if convicted.

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