Updated: Wednesday, 17 Mar 2010, 6:20 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 17 Mar 2010, 6:20 PM CDT
Christina Leavenworth
Photojournalist: Eric Lowe
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Jaimie Maldonado is facing felony animal cruelty charges, after investigators say he strangled his girlfriend's basset hound, Willow, to death. But this isn't the first time Maldonado allegedly showed aggression towards the dog.
The 24-year-old's arrest report stated his girlfriend's dog had gotten feisty with him. That's when he killed it.
FOX10 spoke with Maldonado's girlfriend, Sheryl Salmon, over the phone.
"He was clearly upset on the phone, but he said that my dog Willow was not moving, not breathing. She was dead," said Salmon.
Salmon was visiting her parents in Maryland when it happened. It wasn't until she made it back to Florida when she realized what had happened.
Investigators said they found the dogs body in two white trash bags in this dumpster.
"My basset hound was the sweetest thing in the world. She was so young. I don't want him getting away with this," Salmon added.
Salmon is now living in Maryland, hoping to move on.
But it's not just her having a tough time saying goodbye to Willow. Laura Catterton is an animal advocate. She volunteers with rescue foundations, and gets involved in abuse cases across the county.
"Some of us want to be a voice for the animals that can't speak for themselves. We've dedicated our lives to being their voice. We'll put the message out to whoever will listen," said Catterton.
She said she will follow Willow's case until the very end. It won't bring her back, but it might make someone think twice before hurting an animal.
"We're hoping that people will realize this county takes animal abuse seriously. You will get fined, you will get jail time. Abuse an animal, you go to jail," said Catterton.
Maldonado was booked into the Escambia County Jail, and then released on bond.
If a society is to be judged by it's treatment of animals, that society must also exercise authority over those who abuse animals and consequently lessen the quality of life for all persons in that society. To fail to prosecute this particular abuser is to fail all of Amrican civilization. The world is watching us!
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