Man charged for allegedly killing his girlfriend's service dog that he 'hated'

BUFFALO COUNTY, Wis. [KTRE]

A Wisconsin man faces multiple felony charges stemming from the death of his girlfriend's certified service animal in July, authorities said.

Quintin Ehlo, 21, of Minnesota was charged with animal mistreatment resulting in death, destruction of property and disorderly conduct in Buffalo County following an investigation into the death of Tru, an 8-year-old German shepherd. The dog's owner provided documentation confirming the animal's status as a trained service dog.

According to court documents, Ehlo contacted his girlfriend on July 10 to report that Tru appeared unwell while at Aghaming Park in Buffalo County. When the woman arrived at the location to check on her pet, she discovered the dog had died. Ehlo initially attributed the death to heat-related complications, court records show.

A veterinary examination performed after the animal's death, however, revealed findings inconsistent with Ehlo's account. The necropsy indicated the German shepherd sustained injuries characteristic of blunt-force trauma rather than heat exposure, according to documents filed in the case.

The victim told investigators that Ehlo took the dog without her knowledge or consent while she was asleep, and transported it across state lines into Wisconsin. She also reported to police that Ehlo had made previous statements indicating animosity toward the animal, including remarks about his intention to harm it.

Ehlo is scheduled to appear in Buffalo County Court on Sept. 2 for an initial hearing. A conviction on the charges could result in a sentence exceeding three years of imprisonment, according to state sentencing guidelines.