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Case #8854 Rating: 3.3 out of 5
Dog attacked with machete
Day Valley, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jun 1, 2006
County: Santa Cruz
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Jorge Magaņa
According to witnesses, a man came to Peggy Anderson's home about 5:30 p.m. on June 1 and called out Anderson's 16-year-old son making derogatory comments and threats, said sheriff's Sgt. Fred Plageman.
The man pulled a machete from his pants and began to swing it, Plageman said.
Moments later, he reached over a fence and landed a blow with the machete to the Anderson's 5-year-old Chinese shar-pei, Shanyia.
The dog had come running to the aid of its master and was aggressive but didn't cross the fence line, said Plageman.
The machete sliced an 8-inch cut in the dog's side, which required surgery and 46 stitches.
Sheriff's deputies arrested Jorge Magaņa, 31, who lives near the Andersons on Hathaway Avenue.
He was booked into County Jail on suspicion of displaying a weapon in a threatening manner and cruelty to an animal.
After posting $2,500 on that night he was released.
Dr. Jaime Clevenger of the Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital, who tended to the dog, said, "It looks like the machete only got one good swipe in on the side of the abdomen. The dog was a little overweight and fat was coming through the abdominal wall so we had to do pretty significant surgery."
She said Shanyia was released on June 6.
The SPCA of Santa Cruz County paid the $600 bill for the dog's surgery through its Second Chance Fund.
Anderson said she believes Magaņa mistakenly identified her son for someone else.
Sheriff's Sgt. Christine Swannack, who for years has worked with residents of the Mesa Village neighborhood to reduce crime, said she also believes it was a case of mistaken identity.
Swannack said another teenage boy, fitting the same physical description of Anderson's son, was reportedly involved in a fight at Magaņa's home Sunday and that Monday's incident was possible retaliation.
Whatever the reason, Anderson, who also reported her tires were slashed after the attack, said she is not staying. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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