Police in Phoenix Investigate Chihuahua's Murder and Dismemberment

July 09, 2008

Police in Phoenix, Arizona, are trying to identify a suspect in the killing and mutilation of a 6-month-old Chihuahua named "Taco," who was found sliced in half last week.

"I don't understand why they did [this]," Humberto Medina, the dog's owner, told MyFOXPhoenix.com. "He was just a little dog. He cannot hurt anybody."

According to Humberto, he and his family were gone on a short trip to California last week, during which time one of his older sons had been checking in on Taco and ensuring he had plenty of food and water.

When the family returned on Saturday, Humberto looked out his kitchen window and made the horrific discovery, which he later described to Azcentral.com.

"I was looking at him and it didn't make sense to me," Medina said. "I was shaking my head. No, this cannot be Taco."

Humberto's son said he had checked on Taco at approximately 9:00 a.m. Saturday and the animal was fine. Hence, the killer struck sometime between then and 3:30 p.m., when Humberto and his family returned from their trip.

According to the Phoenix Police Department, the wounds inflicted upon Taco were intentional and not caused by another animal. Investigators have collected blood droplets from the scene, in an attempt to determine if Taco bit his attacker. If he did, DNA evidence in the blood could be used to identify the individual.

"Whoever committed this horrific act of animal cruelty should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and undergo psychological counseling," Carmine Cardamone, director of the Tucson-based Animal Defense Council (ADC), told KOLD.com. "We are deeply concerned that the person or persons who perpetrated this barbaric crime will...

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Photo Credit: Phoenix Police Department

Comments

[Carla]

This is horrible!! What harm could a little dog like that possibly do? I really hope they catch the jacka** that did this!!!!!!

[Lincoln Crisler]

Man, that's not the dog's fault, but it was probably some neighbor who was pissed at the dog yapping it up at 3am... what asshole goes on vacation and leaves their dog outside. I don't blame the dude that killed it, if circumstances were like that. I might not have killed it myself, but I would have done something... trapped it and lost it in the woods or something.

[Liz]

First of all, Lincoln Crisler is an idiot. Let something like this happen to him and see is he still shares the same opinion. What a moron! FYI you moron, dogs should be OKAY outside, even if they are barking. I hope they catch the person or persons responsible for this horrible hate crime. Lock them up and throw away the freaking key.

[Josh]

Poor Taco, that breaks my heart. But I agree with Lincoln Crisler in saying 'who goes on vacation and leaves their dog outside?' Especially a tiny dog like this.

[uriahsky]

I live next door and across the street from barking dogs and there comes a point where you just can't take it anymore. I have to wear earplugs or have my ipod 70% of the time. What other reason could someone have for doing this? It was someone within hearing distance of the dog barking. Who is to blame? The owners of the dog have a responsibility to be there for their dog. This is a major problem in some areas. People who get dogs and then neglect them. And, weak or no laws to protect people from the barking. If there were stronger laws that came with stiff fines, this might have been prevented. If you knew that when you called to complain something would be done, people wouldn't take the law into their own hands.

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[Manny]

Such a sad case. People can be cruel.

[Formax]

The thought of someone torturing a defenseless animal makes me sick to my stomache.