The Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Joseph Russo, 25, of Manahawkin, was sentenced on Nov. 2nd, to 90 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of five years of probation in conjunction with his guilty plea to killing a three year old Pomeranian, named Diesel.
Officials say Diesel was in training to be a certified service/therapy dog for his owner, Abigail Russel, who is a Navy veteran.
According to authorities, on June 4th, Russo pled guilty, admitting he purposely, knowingly or recklessly torment, torture, maim, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, cruelly abuse or needlessly mutilate a companion dog, by the name of Diesel, a living animal, causing said dog to suffer serious bodily injury and die as a result of said actions.
As additional conditions of the sentence, Russo will be required to complete 30 hours of community service, complete anger management and be prohibited from owning or working with animals during the period of his probation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Carr under “Patrick’s Law” that, in 2013, increased penalties for abused, neglected and/or tortured animals. “Patrick’s Law” was named after an emaciated pit bull, Patrick, found after being thrown down a trash chute.