A California man was charged with animal cruelty on Tuesday after he allegedly stomped a couple’s dog to death after killing their cat.
Seth Estrada, 22, was arrested on Friday after his girlfriend’s grandparents called police officers to their home when they found their beloved Maltese, Rain, bleeding profusely.
Chuck Hayes, Rain’s owner, said Estrada killed his dog following a dispute over whether he could continue to live with his granddaughter at their residence, according to the Mercury News.
Seth Estrada, 22, of California, was charged with animal cruelty on Tuesday after he allegedly stomped his girlfriend’s grandparents’ dog, named Rain (pictured), to death
When police arrived to the scene Estrada allegedly yelled:’I killed my first dog!’
Holly Hayes and her husband, who are animal lovers, said Estrada moved in with their granddaughter about a year ago.
‘He’s been periodically hurting my animals since he moved in,’ Holly told the newspaper. ‘They were all accidents, of course. It’s never been this bad.’
Chuck said that he and his wife finally had enough and told Estrada to move out on Friday.
Later that day, Chuck said a neighbor told him she heard Estrada punch Rain, who had purple ears, three times as the dog yelped in pain.
Chuck said when he came home he found Rain barely able to walk. He then held the dog for about a half hour, but had to leave the home to pick up his grandson from school.
He told the newspaper that he laid the dog on a pillow and went outside. But before he could leave, Chuck claims Estrada ran out of the house with the now bleeding dog in his arms.
‘I said, “What’d you do! Give me that dog!” Hayes said. ‘Before I could get back to the house, it died.’ Hayes then called police.
Chuck Hayes, Rain’s owner, said Estrada (pictured) killed his dog following a dispute over whether he could continue to live with his granddaughter at their residence
Estrada claimed he was trying to help the dog walk when it bit him. Estrada said he accidentally fell back and stepped on the front of the dog’s face, according to the Mercury News.
A necropsy revealed Rain suffered from skull fractures, broken ribs, a collapsed spleen, and internal hemorrhaging.
Rain’s injuries were considered intentional.
Estrada also told police that he had killed three other animals, but he said they were all accidents, according to Hawthorne police Lt James Royer.
Chuck and his wife believe Estrada is responsible for the death of their cat that was found in their driveway.
They claim he broke the cat’s neck and tossed it from a second-story window.
Royer said authorities ‘believe that he’s responsible for the deaths of as many as three animals, this by his own admission’.
The investigation is ongoing. Estrada remained in custody Wednesday with his bail set at $20,000.