After a dying poodle was spotted in the jaws of a killer pit bull, the poodle’s owner allegedly retaliated by slashing the pit bull’s throat.
The suspected pit bull killer was free on bail Monday after the canine mayhem between neighbors in a quiet Riverside community.
It all started on the morning of Christmas eve, when the pit bull’s owner came out of her house when she heard a disturbance and saw her dog was holding a neighbor’s poodle in its mouth by the neck, according to notes taken by Officer Max Morales of Animal Services.
The poodle’s owner, Rudy Jesus Barajas of Riverside, 30, along with two other neighbors, attempted to free the poodle from the pit bull’s jaws, according to Morales.
After the pit bull had released the poodle, Barajas managed to avoid being bitten and allegedly dragged the killer dog into his house from the street and slit its throat with a knife, according to a statement given by the poodle owner to Morales.
The pit bull then ran back to its owner and collapsed. The pit bull’s owner took the dog to the veterinarian but it died on the way there, officials said.
Barajas’ stepfather, Raul Romero, told Morales that “the poodle was in its rightful property when the pit bull entered the yard and attacked.” He also said the pit bull tried to bite Barajas.
The poodle was still alive after it was released by the pit bull but subsequently died of its injuries.
Barajas was arrested at his home in the 4900 block of Hollyhock Lane on suspicion of animal cruelty.
California law allows property owners to protect themselves and their pets when attacked. However, the deliberate killing of an animal can result in felony charges, according to officials.
Animal services concluded that the attack on the pit bull was not defensive and only prolonged the incident.
Barajas was booked on suspicion of felony animal cruelty after the 9:45 a.m. Saturday incident at the Robert Presley Detention Center and was released after posting a $10,000 bail.
— Staff and wire reports