Sonoma County man faces animal cruelty charges in dog's throat slashing

Prosecutors are charging a Sonoma County man with animal cruelty for allegedly binding the legs and muzzle of an aged dog, cutting its throat and leaving it for dead in a Santa Rosa creek bed.

Howls from the black lab, named Shadow, were overheard by passers-by and the dog was taken to a veterinary clinic. He later died from an unrelated medical condition.

His owner, Ramiro Ramirez, 34, was located by an identification chip implanted in the dog’s body.

Ramirez was charged this week with maiming, torturing or wounding a living animal, a felony punishable by up to three years behind bars. He remains out of custody on $10,000 bail.

Ramirez denied ever intending to torture Shadow, his pet of about 14 years. His attorney, Charles Applegate, said Ramirez was trying to euthanize his sick dog the way he’d seen it done to livestock on the farm where he grew up in Sonoma County.

Applegate said Ramirez could not afford to have it done by a doctor.

“He didn’t want to hurt the dog,” Applegate said. “He just wanted to kill it, as odd as that may sound.”

Ramirez left the animal in the creek, thinking it was mortally wounded, Applegate said. There was no malice or ill intent, the attorney said.

“The dog was going to die anyway,” he said. “It was sick, old and had trouble eating.”

His lawyer and prosecutors met privately Thursday afternoon with Judge Dana Simonds to discuss a possible resolution. They set the next court date for Oct. 27.

The incident happened in March. Prosecutors charged Ramirez after a necropsy and lengthy investigation.

The dog was found along a creek trail under Petaluma Hill Road, a prosecutor said. People walking in the area heard the dog’s cries and called police. The animal was recovering from its injuries when it died a few days later, he said.

In addition to jail time, Ramirez faces a $20,000 fine.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.