The Brief
- A 37-year-old Tampa man faces an animal cruelty charge after police say he killed his family’s 4-pound Chihuahua on May 4.
- Investigators determined Christopher Malone was intoxicated when he intentionally inflicted blunt force trauma on the 6-year-old dog.
- Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw called the incident a “senseless act of violence” against a defenseless pet.
TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa man is facing charges after police say he killed his family’s 4-pound dog earlier this month.
Dead dog investigation
What we know:
Tampa police went to a home in the 3100 block of W. Cordelia St. around 10 p.m. on May 4, 2026, to investigate an incident that led to the death of a 6-year-old Chihuahua.
Investigators said 37-year-old Christopher Malone intentionally inflicted a fatal injury on the four-pound dog after it walked past him.…