RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA — A pet owner was arrested on animal cruelty charges for killing a pit bull that mauled his dog to death over the weekend. <br /> <br />Rudy Jesus Barajas, 30, cut the pit bull’s throat after the dog took the life of his pet, a 10-month-old poodle mix named Spunky, CBSLA reported. <br /> <br />The incident took place on Saturday morning, when a neighbor’s 2-year-old pit bull ran into Barajas’ property and went straight for Spunky. <br /> <br />Barajas and other neighbors tried to stop the attack, but they were too late, as the pit bull had already clamped down on the poodle’s neck. <br /> <br />After the pit bull let go, Barajas grabbed the dog by its neck, dragged it into his kitchen and slit its throat with a knife. <br /> <br />The pit bull ran back across the street to its owner and collapsed. It died on the way to the animal hospital. <br /> <br />Some witnesses said the pit bull tried to bite people at the scene after it let go of the poodle, according to the Press Enterprise. <br /> <br />But according to the Riverside County Animal Services, Barajas acted out of spite when he killed the dog. The police are investigating and Barajas could face felony animal cruelty charges.
