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07th Aug 2013

Man Blows up Dog but Won’t Face Animal Cruelty Charges say Prosecutors

A horrific act of animal cruelty...

Una Kavanagh

A man in the US strapped explosives to dog and blew it up but won’t face animal cruelty charges because the dog didn’t suffer say law enforcement officials.

Washington man, Christopher Dillingham allegedly killed the yellow labrador last Sunday after a dispute with his daughter. She had been given the pet as a present.

It is reported that Dillingham carried out the bombing at 4am on Sunday morning outside their home.

“It sounded like a high-power rifle outside my window,” said Skamania County Sheriff Dave Brown who lived nearby.

Deputies called to Dillingham’s house where they found the remains of the dog strewn about the yard. The dog was decapitated.  

They arrested the 45-year-old man on the spot.

According to court documents, the accused said that he was preparing for “the rapture,” and said that “the world is going to end” due to a nuclear strike.

Deputies then asked why he blew up his dog and he said that he killed it because he got it from his ex-girlfriend and he believed she had “put the devil in it.”

Dillingham faces charges of second-degree malicious mischief, reckless endangerment and possession of explosive devices, but not animal cruelty.

The Skamania County prosecutor said that this charge is used if the animal had suffered, but because the dog died instantly it might not apply.

However he told KPTV that it was possible that animal cruelty charges will be added to the charges later.

“We are reviewing the animal cruelty statutes and case law, and if the law allows, we will file additional charges in relation to the killing of the dog,” 

Dillingham owns and operates a firework stand called “Thundershack” in the area and has a criminal history. He’s being held on $500,000 bail.

Pics via Huffington Post

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