SPCA visit to Fresno home leads to arrest after dog is found dead inside plastic bag

Central California SPCA said it worked with Fresno police in the arrest of a man after a small dog was found dead inside a plastic shopping bag in the back yard of a local home.

A report was posted Friday on the Facebook page of the Central California SPCA and included photos of a man in custody and the dog’s body inside the bag. There were no obvious signs of trauma on the body of the female Maltese, according to the SPCA, leading the agency to believe she may have suffocated.

A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. Police were unable to confirm details or provide the name of the man arrested.

The investigation had been triggered, the SPCA stated, after a neighbor called the agency to report someone “beating and kicking his small dog.” The caller said he could hear the dog crying.

An SPCA humane officer was sent to the home in the area of Fresno Street and Ashlan Avenue about noon Friday. The man said there was no dog, but food and water dishes could be seen.

The suspect’s brother, the SPCA said, confirmed that a dog lived in the back yard. That’s when the humane officer called in Fresno police, according to the agency, for help in searching the back yard. The humane officer said they found a sealed bag with the dog inside.

The man was arrested by the humane officer on suspicion of animal cruelty, the SPCA said.

Reports of animal abuse can be made to the Central California SPCA at 559-233-7722.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 9:11 PM with the headline "SPCA visit to Fresno home leads to arrest after dog is found dead inside plastic bag."