Man gets 90 days for slashing dog’s throat

A Santa Rosa man was sentenced Monday for attempting to euthanize his dog by slashing its throat with a knife earlier this year, prosecutors said.

Ramiro Ramirez, 34, had pleaded no contest to a charge of felony animal cruelty last month and today was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 100 hours of community service, Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said.

On March 22, a person called Sonoma County Animal Services after hearing a dog crying and whining while walking along Santa Rosa Creek, Ravitch said.

Animal control officers responded to the creek near Petaluma Hill Road where they found “Shadow,” a 12-year-old black Labrador retriever with its muzzle and hind legs bound by black athletic tape, she said.

The dog was lying in the creek in 6 inches of water with three large horizontal lacerations across his neck, where a microchip was implanted, according to Ravitch. The dog was immediately taken to the Redwood Veterinary Clinic but died a week later from an unrelated medical condition, Ravitch said.

Ramirez initially told investigators that he had a Labrador that died last year and his wife corroborated his claim, Ravitch said. Ramirez was also shown pictures of “Shadow” but he said denied owning the dog, according to Ravitch.

Investigators were able to obtain a social media search warrant that showed Ramirez post on the alleged passing of “Shadow,” she said. Based on that information, Ramirez was confronted again by investigators and confessed to the crime, according to Ravitch.

After the third cut, Ramirez said he became extremely emotional, could not proceed and left the dog by the creek, Ravitch said:

“Without the willingness and diligent efforts from all involved, an animal would have continued to suffer without much needed medical attention, and equally as important, the inhumane treatment of Shadow would have gone unpunished.”