10/02/02 man kills dog over feces in yard

by **Dark Blue** » Feb 3rd, '10, 04:19

CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. - A 69-year-old man has been accused of animal cruelty after shooting a dog that had defecated on his lawn, police say.

Sgt. Janet Schaefer said Cataldo Cristiani was arrested after officers responded to a report Saturday of a dog named "Midge" that had been shot and a man seen going into his home with a rifle.

"I'm crushed and devastated that someone could do that to my little dog,"said Midge's owner, Louisa Minyard.

Upon arriving at Cristiani's residence, Schaefer said officers found a small deceased dog with a wound in its side.

Schaefer said officers determined Cristiani shot the dog with a BB gun when it entered his yard. Cristiani said he didn't intend to kill the dog, Schaefer said.

This wasn't the first incident involving the dog in Cristiani's yard. Schaefer said this has been a long-running situation lasting a few years.

Cristiani was booked into Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of felony animal cruelty.

"Someone who could do something like that is evil," said Minyard.