On October 16, Sacramento Sheriff’s deputies were called to an apartment complex in Carmichael where a dog was discovered with serious injuries. The scene was bad enough that Sheriff’s detectives with the property crimes division were brought out to investigate. Witnesses confirmed that the suffering canine belonged to 41-year-old Danielle Killian.

“Killian lived alone with two dogs and one cat, for whom she was the sole care provider,” Sheriff’s Sergeant Amar Gandhi said in a statement. “Detectives arrived on scene and learned from Killian that she felt her life would be easier if she only had to care for one dog and cut one of the dog’s throats on October 14. While the dog was still alive, she placed it in a shopping bag and disposed of it in the garbage bin at her apartment complex on October 15.”

Gandhi added, “Detectives then executed a search warrant of her apartment, leading to the discovery of the knife presumably used in this incident. “

The Sheriff’s Animal Control unit immediately took the hurt dog for medical treatment, while also seizing the other dog that lived with Killian. The cat could not be located.

The dog that was found in the garbage bin had survived roughly 48 hours with a life-threatening injury. So far, the Sheriff’s Office has not issued an update on the animal’s condition. 

Killian was booked into the main jail in Downtown Sacramento, though released back on the streets in a matter of hours by the courts.