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Dog Beaten To Death With Ax In Manayunk

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Apr 24, 2008 2:02 pm US/Eastern

Dog Beaten To Death With Ax In Manayunk

Reporting
Todd Quinones
MANAYUNK (CBS 3) ― An elderly Manayunk woman has been charged with animal cruelty after being accused of mutilating a dog with an axe. But there are conflicting reports as to who struck the fatal blow.

Authorities said a dog named Star was savagely beaten to death Tuesday morning with an axe hammer.

Dr. Ravi Murarka of the Pennsylvania SPCA said x-rays revealed the dog's skull had been fractured after being hit with the blunt end of the tool.

"I mean, to crack the skull, she must have used a lot of force," Dr. Murarka said.

Police said 76-year-old Valentine Gvakhria was arrested and charged with animal cruelty and related offenses. The dog apparently was owned by her son.

Neighbors said they could hear the dog yelping in pain Tuesday morning.

"Here's this woman beating this little dog with a hatchet and the little dog was lying on the ground screaming," neighbor Ann Hawlett said.

However, the dog's owner contends his mother is not responsible for the dog's death. He believes Star somehow escaped from his backyard before someone mutilated her and dumped her body on his front stoop.

He said his mother, while yelling in Russian, picked up Star and placed her in the backyard.

"She was screaming for help and they called the cops and they arrested her," the owner said.

Star's owner believes someone who has a personal grudge is responsible for the dog's death.

A court hearing for Gvakhria is scheduled for next month.

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