Monterey County man pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges following girlfriend’s dog’s death

29-year-old Aaron O’Hare entered guilty pleas on charges of cruelty to an animal and domestic violence.

On August 7, 2018, the SPCA’s Humane Investigations Division received an anonymous tip that a white Pomeranian dog was being abused by the owner’s boyfriend. The SPCA Investigator tracked down information that the dog was seen at a vet on July 30, 2018 and diagnosed with significant bruises and swelling to the left leg, and abdomen with hemorrhaging in the left eye.

At that time, O’Hare stated he fell on the dog when he got tangled up in the leash during a walk. The dog was treated and released with recommendation that the owner return with the dog for an MRI to determine the source of the bleeding. The records further indicated on August 6, 2018, the dog was again taken to the emergency veterinarian and was unable to walk and had swelling of the nose and shoulders. At this time, O’Hare admitted he smacked the dog on the nose when it urinated on the floor.

SPCA Investigators found the residence and the owner on August 11, 2018 but the dog had died earlier that morning. A post-mortem necropsy was performed which revealed six broken ribs in varying stages of healing, two dislocated hips, bleeding in the brain, a hemorrhaged liver and the dog’s spine was dislocated from the skull. Said findings were a result of multiple episodes of blunt force trauma as well as possible shaking over a course of two weeks. The cause of death was determined to be shock secondary to traumatic injury resulting in bleeding around the brain and in the abdomen.

After receiving the necropsy results, the owner of the dog ended her relationship with O’Hare.

The SPCA requested an arrest warrant but not before the defendant returned to his mother’s home in Texas. O’Hare was extradited on July 15, 2019 and arraigned on a felony charge of cruelty to an animal.

Once the owner of the dog was informed that O’Hare was in-custody, she reported being abused as well by O’Hare and domestic violence charges were added.

O’Hare will be sentenced to three years, the maximum punishment allowed by law, on April 9, 2020.