Man who killed his girlfriend's dog and fed it to her arrested

A man who allegedly cooked his
girlfriend’s dog and fed it to her before
returning the pet’s dismembered paws
has been arrested in California.
Ryan Eddy Watenpaugh, 34, denies killing
the woman’s Pomeranian, called Bear,
and claimed the incident was a joke but
could not explain where the missing dog
was.
She had called the police previously
reporting domestic violence and stalking,
saying she fled her apartment in Redding
when Watenpaugh assaulted her on 4
August and found him and Bear gone
when she returned.
In the first week of September, the couple
briefly reconciled and Watenpaugh
cooked his girlfriend a meal containing
meat.
Days afterwards, on 7 September, he
texted her asking how her dog tasted,
claiming it was in the meal, Redding
Police Department said.
Watenpaugh then sent a series of
“menacing” text messages outlining his
plans for the animal’s remains, including
returning its paws to his girlfriend.
A Pomeranian (not the dog involved)
On Tuesday, she saw him pull up outside
her house and put a bag outside her door
before walking away.
When the woman, who has not been
named, opened it, she found what she
believed to be her dog’s paws.
She called police that day, detailing
alleged abuse by Watenpaugh including
numerous physical assaults over several
months leaving bruises and cuts.
On two occasions she tried to escape
during the attacks, police said, but was
held against her will by her boyfriend.
When officers searched his house, they
found a Romanian AK-47 assault rifle and
multiple rounds of ammunition.
Following a surveillance operation, he
was arrested on Thursday while driving in
the nearby village of Palo Cedro.
Watenpaugh is being held in Shasta
County Jail, Redding, on charges of animal
cruelty, domestic violence, false
imprisonment and stalking.
Redding Police Department said his bail
had been set at $250 million (£154
million) and additional charges will be
brought for alleged firearms offences.
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