Taylorsville man charged after allegedly killing dog allowed to sleep on partner’s bed after suspect was banished to floor

Yulong Du. Photo: Salt Lake County
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TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Oct. 29, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — A Taylorsville man has been charged with assault and animal cruelty after he allegedly killed his romantic partner’s dog because the victim’s animal was allowed to sleep on the bed after the suspect had been told to sleep on the floor.

The suspect — 23-year-old Yulong Du — then allegedly said he was going to kill the dog. He struggled for control of the animal, injuring his partner, then threw the dog on the floor, killing it, charging documents in the case state.

The probable cause statement does not specify whether the injured dog owner is male or female.

The reporting officer, from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, was called to the apartment for a domestic in progress on Sunday.

“I arrived and spoke with the victim, who stated the two had been dating for approximately six months and lived together until approximately one month ago when the victim got their own apartment,” the statement says. “The two still date and sleep in the same residence a couple of times a week.

“The AP (accused person, Du) and the victim were verbally arguing earlier in the evening. (Du) left and returned a short time later intoxicated, the victim and (Du) began to argue again. The victim asked (Du) to sleep on the floor.”

A few minutes later, (Du) got up from the floor to use the bathroom, and returned to find the victim’s dog was sleeping on the bed. The couple began to argue again, the statement says.

“The victim was told they loved the dog more than (Du) and then (Du) attempted to remove the dog from the bed. A struggle for the dog ensued with both parties trying to gain control of the dog.”

While Du was grabbing at the dog, the victim was injured in the neck, and Du allegedly knocked over a table, causing a lamp and mirror to break, the statement says.

As Du was grabbing for the dog, he “continually advised the victim (he) was going to kill the dog,” the statement says.

“(Du) was able to gain control of the dog. (Du) then threw the dog to the floor in the hallway just outside the bedroom striking the clothes washer. This caused the dog to urinate and defecate in the hallway and on the washer and dryer.”

The victim told officers the dog shook as if it were having a seizure, then it died.

“The dog was deceased on arrival. The victim has had the dog since it was a puppy, which was 13 years ago.”

Du also had a dog at the apartment, and Animal Control was contacted to take custody of that dog. The owner of the dead dog kept it to have it cremated by a veterinarian, the statement said.

Du has been charged on suspicion of:

  • Aggravated cruelty to animals, intentional, a third-degree felony
  • Assault, a class B misdemeanor
  • Criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor
  • Intoxication, a class C misdemeanor

His bail was set at $5,000.

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