Man stabbed his dog in the head, left her to die in desert: Police

A canine proprietor is dealing with fees after he beat and stabbed his pet earlier than leaving her for lifeless within the Nevada desert in a botched try at euthanasia, police mentioned.

Wayne Johnson, 76, of Spokane, Washington, was arrested September 14 in Laughlin, Nevada, dealing with one depend of malicious torture to kill an animal, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Division (LVMPD) informed native media.

Johnson informed authorities that he beat his canine, named Kea, over the top with a hammer to render her unconscious earlier than stabbing her within the head and slashing her throat, police mentioned. He left Kea within the Nevada desert to be eaten by wild animals “as a result of it was the circle of life,” in response to courtroom paperwork obtained by native station KSNV. He informed police she was “getting too outdated and sick and needed to place her down,” the arrest report states.

A girl discovered a bleeding canine, later recognized as Kea, close to Nevada Phone Cove and Pink Hill roads shortly after 11:40 a.m. March 18. Kea survived the assault however was euthanized at The Animal Basis a number of days later, in response to native media citing LVMPD.

Whereas native media reviews say that police needed to conduct a number of cellphone interviews with Johnson, who lives out of state, it was unclear on the time of publication why his arrest took almost six months.

Newsweek reached out by way of electronic mail and Fb on Wednesday to the LVMPD and The Animal Basis for additional info.

Police additionally acquired a name on March 18 from the girl who mentioned she discovered a “giant, brown canine” in a desert space in Laughlin. The caller mentioned the canine had a number of accidents, together with quite a few stab wounds to the top and had her throat reduce “a minimum of twice.” The caller, whom police didn’t determine, mentioned the canine was pleasant however “seemed to be disoriented,” in response to the arrest report.

Kea was transported for remedy and stabilized by veterinary workers at The Animal Basis, however the canine required surgical procedure and a feeding tube in her throat. After surviving for a number of days after surgical procedure, Kea needed to be euthanized as a result of severity of her accidents.

The Animal Basis workers discovered a microchip in Kea, which recognized her proprietor as Johnson. LVMPD contacted him, and he informed officers that he attacked his pet, police mentioned.

After being informed his canine survived and was secure after surgical procedure, Johnson mentioned to LMVPD officers “that it was too unhealthy that they had been losing all that cash on a dying canine,” the arrest report states.

Johnson informed authorities that his canine was outdated, sick with most cancers and had blood in her urine. Nonetheless, The Animal Basis later rejected his claims, saying their exams didn’t point out Kea had most cancers or urinary points, in response to native station FOX5.

Johnson mentioned he took Kea on a path hike close to Nevada Phone Cove Highway, the place he mentioned they’d “good” recollections from earlier hikes collectively. Throughout that March journey, he informed police, he tried to kill Kea by hitting her with a hammer, then slitting her throat. He additionally informed officers that he grew up on a farm and had expertise placing animals down, including that he left when he thought he “completed the job,” in response to the arrest report.

Johnson informed police he would cooperate with their investigation however mentioned he believed that he did nothing fallacious and didn’t suppose he dedicated against the law.