Franklin County man killed dog in abuse reported by 3 people, police say
A Franklin County man admitted to killing his dog after police responded to a call from a neighbor who heard the deadly beating happen, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Amire Minnich, 20, is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a third-degree felony, and cruelty to animals and neglect of animals, according to online court records.
He was arrested without incident shortly after the incident Tuesday and placed in Franklin County Jail. Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock set bail at $50,000, court records show.
Authorities received 3 calls about dog's abuse
State troopers began heading to a home in the 1000 block of Hollywell Avenue, Guilford Township, at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday after a person in a neighboring apartment reported hearing what sounded like a dog being beaten, police wrote in court documents.
Before police arrived at the home, a male at the address called 911 and asked for instructions for giving CPR to a dog.
The person who made the initial report told troopers at the scene that they heard a "dog yelping and a man yelling for more than ten minutes," court documents state. They then heard "labored breathing" by the dog that stopped after several minutes, followed by the male "crying the dog's name," according to court documents.
Pennsylvania Humane Police Officer Russell Harper was also at the scene. He was dispatched after Mountain View Animal Hospital in Hagerstown, Md., received a call from a woman who said her boyfriend, Minnich, struck and killed a dog.
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Man said he hit 'Diorr' because he was angry
Troopers and Harper together went to the apartment where the incident took place.
"Minnich admitted to striking and killing a canine identified as Diorr...due to being angry," police wrote in court documents.
In a formal interview following his arrest, Minnich said he hit the dog in the head because he was angry about it defecating on the floor, according to court documents.
Harper, the humane officer, examined the deceased canine and found blood coming from its mouth. It was taken to a veterinarian to undergo a necropsy.
Police identified the dog as a "bernedoodle breed type." A bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese mountain dog and a poodle, according to dogacademy.org. The website describes them as "affectionate, playful and loyal."
Minnich's preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 6 in Franklin County Central Court.
The maximum sentence for aggravated cruelty to animals is seven years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine, and the maximum sentence for cruelty to animals is two years imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine.
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Chambersburg man kills dog, charged with aggravated cruelty to animals
