- Utah, USA -
On Friday, April 24, in the 3rd District Court, charges were filed against 24-year-old MARVIN JAVIER LOPEZ (pictured below) for his role in an animal cruelty case that happened in February 2020.
LOPEZ was charged with torture of a companion animal and possession of a firearm by a restricted person, both third-degree felonies.
On February 7, police responded to a report about a puppy being beaten.
Officers arrived at an apartment complex on 297 East Hill Avenue in Millcreek.
The person who reported the incident said that he awoke to the sound of LOPEZ in the bathroom beating a 5-month-old black Labrador nearly to death.
The poor pup was yelping and whimpering in pain and unable to walk.
The man tried to open the bathroom door, but LOPEZ shut it.
The witness observed blood on the walls and on LOPEZ’s feet.
The probable cause statement says that the young furbaby, a certified companion animal, suffered enough blood loss from the beating that his life was in danger.
GEPHARDT DAILY reports that: “An officer from Salt Lake County Animal Services noted the puppy on the living room floor, unable to move his hind legs, salivating profusely, with signs he was in shock, the indictment says. The officer also observed signs the puppy had serious internal injuries and was in need of immediate medical care, the document says.
Court paperwork does not reveal if the puppy survived.”
I have emailed Salt Lake County Animal Services to inquire about the furbaby.
If they respond, I’ll let you all know.
