Dog hacked to death with machete Toledo, OH (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 30, 2002 County: Lucas Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Osaigbovo Oshodin » Osahon Oshodin Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 431 Classification: Mutilation/Torture Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in OH (US) Login to Watch this Case

Authorities received a call Tuesday night from a crying young girl, who said her uncle was in the backyard of his West Toledo home killing her dog.

Police officers and a Lucas County deputy dog warden arrived at 1920 Mount Vernon Ave. to find Osahon Oshodin, 21, fleeing the backyard, where a 50-pound rottweiler mix lay dead.

Photographs taken at the scene show the large black dog lying in a pool of blood. Its mouth was tied shut. Its throat was slit. And an 18-inch machete was lying across the wound. A 25-pound barbell weight - possibly used to beat the dog - lay nearby.

"The suspect was standing covered in blood," Officer Jose Medina said. "When we approached, he took off."

Police apprehended Mr. Oshodin a few minutes later and arrested him and his brother, Osaigbovo Oshodin, 44, who was inside the house when authorities arrived and is accused of assisting with the killing. Both were charged with cruelty to animals. Osahon Oshodin also was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing official business. All the charges are misdemeanors

They pleaded not guilty yesterday during their arraignments before Toledo Municipal Court Magistrate David Smith. The Oshodins� pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23. Conviction carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine for each charge.

After the court hearing, the men told reporters that the killing was a ritual sacrifice necessary in the Edo faith, a religion practiced in their home country, Nigeria.

"In my 15 years as dog warden, I�ve never seen anything this gross in my life," said John Simon, a deputy dog warden who was at the scene. "If it�s a cultural thing, fine. But you don�t take a 12-year-old�s dog and slit its throat. I�ve been having nightmares."

He said the men told him they killed the dog and were planning to eat it as part of a purification ritual that would bring them good luck on an upcoming trip.

In the photographs, a set of car keys can be seen in the pool of blood. The men told Mr. Simon the keys would have to sit in the blood for two days to receive the blessing.

"It was a blessing for me and my family," Osaigbovo Oshodin told reporters after his arraignment.

The dog was registered to Osahon Oshodin�s niece, who was in tears when officers arrived, Officer Medina said.

Another dog - a pitbull found in a cage in the backyard - was seized by the dog warden�s office.

"This was a cultural misunderstanding," Stevin Groth, the brothers� attorney, said. "This is a clash between culture and American law, and we�re going to explore the issues."

The Toledo Humane Society believes the Oshodins� action is indefensible no matter their religion.

Jed Mignano, a cruelty investigator for the society, said a necropsy and further investigation will prove it was not a ritual sacrifice but "outright mutilation."

It doesn�t matter what the Oshodins� religion commands, Mr. Mignano said. Their religion has to agree with state law.

"The code is willing to recognize ritual killing with certain criteria," he said. "A sharp instrument must be used, and both carotid arteries must be severed so the animal doesn�t suffer. I don�t believe [this happened]. We think the dog remained conscious and suffered for some time."

However, state law says "in order to protect freedom of religion, ritual slaughter, and the handling or preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are exempted" from the requirements for humane methods.

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