SALISBURY, Md.- A Salisbury man is facing animal cruelty charges following accusations that he beat a small dog to death.
The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office said that on Saturday afternoon, deputies were called to the West Road home of Nathan Ennels II, after receiving a report that Ennels beat a dog to death.
Responding deputies learned that Ennels became enraged after discovering that “Spanky," a 5-year-old miniature schnauzer, had urinated on the floor of Ennels' home, the Sheriff's Office said.
Ennels reportedly struck “Spanky” with his hand hard enough to make the dog screech and was then observed kicking the dog multiple times while yelling at “Spanky” to get into a cage, the Sheriff's Office said. Investigators said that when “Spanky” did not go into the cage, Ennels was observed roughly jabbing the dog with a broom handle at least 15 times while yelling at him to get into the cage. The Sheriff's Office said that following this, “Spanky” was heard whining and screeching as loud as the dog possibly could. Ennels was observed yelling at “Spanky” again about not listening while threatening the dog, investigators said.
When sheriff's deputies went to Ennels' home, they said he initially refused to answer the door or cooperate with the investigation. Another family member had to respond, locate the deceased dog and bring it to the deputies. The investigating deputies also learned that Ennels reportedly tried to clean up the location inside the home where this incident occurred, the Sheriff's Office said.
Ennels was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, animal cruelty, animal cruelty - cause suffering or pain, animal cruelty - failure to provide veterinary care, obstruct and hinder, and alter physical evidence. He is being held without bond in the Wicomico County Detention Center.
