Dog Tied to Fire Hydrant During Machete Attack Dies

Merced Police say a dog was tied to a fire hydrant by two suspects and attacked with a machete. The husky suffered injuries so severe it had to be put down.

"I can’t believe somebody would come out in broad daylight with machetes, tie the dog up to a fire hydrant and kill him. You’re heartless," the dogs owner Ralph Guerrero said.

The husky named Lucius could be heard by neighbors moaning in pain for over an hour before police arrived. The dog was bloody, couldn’t walk and had back injuries. Police say animal control euthanized the animal to stop its suffering.

"You shouldn’t have taken it into your own hands. The life or death of a dog. That’s like a family member," Guerrero said.

Guerrero had a friend watching Lucius. Friday morning he says the friend was walking the dog. Police say as they were walking another dog approached them not on a leash and the animals started fighting. That’s when police say two men Myron Patillo and Aaron Carney allegedly demanded money for their dogs injuries.

"He was approached again by the same individuals and they had machetes. He was afraid and kinda backed off. They basically robbed him of his dog," Robert Solis with the Merced Police Department said.

Guerrero says he knows the men and he got a call from Patillo before 10 a.m. demanding money for his injured dog.

"He tells me you need to get your dog he just attacked my dog. But not so serious. He’s like, I’m about to get my pistol or give me a thousand dollars," Guerrero said.

Guerrero said an hour later family members told him his dog was dead.

"Chased my dog down, you hunted my dog, tied him up and just murdered him," Guerrero said.

He describes Lucius as a well behaved dog that liked to play. A dog he trusted around his one year old.

"That’s why my son loved him so much. He would jump on him and he would never move," he said.

Police initially contacted both suspects but didn’t have enough evidence to arrest them. Later in the day they gained more information but could not locate the suspects.

Myron Patillo was eventually arrested and booked for animal cruelty and robbery. Police are still looking for Aaron Carney.

Officers are asking neighbors to come forward.

"I know they are afraid of retaliation but they can remain anonymous. If they don’t want to remain anonymous that’s great. We need people to testify in court because this is wrong," Solis said.

Anyone with information can call the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725. Or send information via anonymous text messages to the police department by dialing "TIP411."