In a recent incident that shocked the residents of Buena Park, Orange County, Southern California, a man who was on probation for attacking a co-worker with a metal pipe has now been charged with animal cruelty resulting in death for strangling a pregnant dog with a rope.
On the morning of December 1st around 7:35 am, 58-year-old Eric Lyn Holliday drove his Ford Explorer SUV into a narrow alley in the 600 block of S. Brookhurst Street in Anaheim.
Surveillance footage captured him getting out of the driver’s seat, holding a white rope, looping one end around a yellow parking post, and tying the other end to the Ford Explorer. He then took out a box containing a puppy from the passenger seat, looped the rope around the puppy’s neck, tilted the box, and let the puppy out.
Upon returning to the driver’s seat, Holliday accelerated the car forward, tightening the rope, resulting in the puppy’s neck breaking. The video showed Holliday inspecting the dog, leaving its body in the alley, and then driving away.
Several hours later, a store manager in the area discovered the dog – a 6-year-old Maltese. The dog had suffered a broken spine and artery. Police, upon receiving the report, verified Holliday’s identity and arrested him, also finding him in possession of several bags of methamphetamine.
Holliday faces charges of animal cruelty resulting in death and possession of hard drugs (being a repeat drug offender); he is also charged with violating the terms of his probation. If convicted, Holliday could face up to eight years and four months for the animal cruelty and drug possession charges, as well as up to four years and eight months for violating probation.
Earlier on October 15th, Holliday pleaded guilty to two felony charges and was sentenced to two years of probation, with charges including violent assault that could cause serious bodily harm and intentional destruction causing property damage of $400 or more.
“People who abuse animals will go to hell,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The suspect did not act on impulse but intentionally murdered a defenseless animal… only a demon would commit such a heinous act.”
Deputy District Attorney Michael Chay from the Orange County Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit is handling the prosecution in this case.
Spitzer added, “Prior to sentencing, we will ensure that the court fully understands this individual’s actions and the threat he poses to public safety. We will not tolerate any acts of animal cruelty, and these actions will be severely punished by the law.”