Photo of Missy the yorkie, courtesy of WJAR
By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
A 58-year-old Cranston man was charged with the malicious killing of a dog after he beat in with a cane.
According to a statement by Cranston Police, Nicola Patalano beat a seven pound yorkie with a walking cane on Friday. Police say Patalano claimed he was walking his own dog in the Western Hills Lane complex when the yorkie attacked his dog. Patalano alleged he hit the yorkie with his cane when he was unable to separate the two with his foot.
When officers investigated they found the yorkie had been brought to the animal hospital where it later died.
Patalano has a pre-arraignment hearing scheduled for January 23.
