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WEST JORDAN — Police say a South Salt Lake man killed his girlfriend’s dog because he believed she loved her pet more than him.
Yulong Du, 23, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with torture of a companion animal, a third-degree felony.
On Oct. 27, Du arrived at the apartment he shares with his girlfriend in the early morning hours after he had been drinking, and according to charging documents, she told Du to sleep on the floor.
The girlfriend’s dog, a 13-year-old Maltese, however, was allowed to sleep on the bed next to her, according to charging documents. Police say this angered Du.
“I am going to kill your dog because you love him more than me,” Du yelled at his girlfriend, the charges state.
The couple struggled over the dog. When Du was able to grab the animal from her, he “held the dog as high as he could and threw him hard to the floor,” according to charging documents.
The dog began shaking as if it were having a seizure, and died.
A $25,000 warrant was issued Friday for Du’s arrest.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
