Salt Lake man charged with stabbing dog who wouldn't sit by him

SALT LAKE CITY — Criminal charges were filed Monday against a Salt Lake man accused of stabbing his dog multiple times during a domestic violence argument with a woman.

Derringer John Dade, 37, is charged in 3rd District Court with assault, a third-degree felony, and cruelty to an animal, a class B misdemeanor.

On April 21, Salt Lake police were called on a report that Dade was "intoxicated and was stabbing his dog with a knife," according to charging documents.

When officers arrived, they learned that a woman was sitting on the couch with Dade, "and Dade's dog, Rocco, was sitting next to (the woman). This upset Dade, and he tried to get the dog to come sit by him. (She) told Dade that the dog was fine where he was and Dade told her to, 'shut … up,'" the charges state.

Dade then tried to physically move the dog near him, "and when the dog wouldn't, he picked the dog up, slammed him down a couple of times, and then attempted to strangle the dog by placing his hands around the dog's throat and squeezing. He told (the woman) that he would kill the dog," the charges allege.

As Dade became more aggressive with Rocco, prosecutors say the dog nipped at him. "This infuriated (Dade), who wrapped his hands around the dog's neck and attempted to strangle the dog. The defendant yelled, 'He's dead, that dog's dead,'" according to the charges.

The woman put Rocco in his kennel. But Dade then "grabbed a knife from the kitchen and began to stab Rocco through the kennel, causing at least one large injury to the dog's head," the charges state.

When the woman refused to leave the residence because she didn't want the dog to be alone, Dade threatened to beat her and pushed her out the door, the court documents say.

After Dade was arrested, the pit bull was taken to a vet clinic for treatment. Police say the injuries were not life-threatening.

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