GRASMERE — A man kicked his roommate's 8-month-old Yorkshire Terrier down a flight a stairs, injuring the pup so badly it had to be euthanized, prosecutors said.
Michael McNicholas, 24, was hit with a two-count indictment Wednesday for the May 18 incident, in which he kicked the pooch down a flight of stairs and into a wall at his Clove Road apartment, District Attorney Michael McMahon said.
McNicholas booted the dog, named Banana, because he was drunk and upset over the anniversary of his mother's death, prosecutors said.
The puppy was taken to the South Shore Animal Hospital with hemorrhaging around her brain and in her eyes, severe traumatic brain injury, rib and hip-joint fractures, multiple liver lacerations and multiple contusions to her body, authorities said.
The injuries forced veterinarians to euthanize Banana.
"I was drunk and I was upset about the anniversary of my mother's death so I was drinking. I kicked the dog and it flew across the stairs into the wall," McNicholas told officers, according to his criminal complaint.
"Those who do harm to defenseless animals must be held accountable," said McMahon, who started a dedicated unit to prosecute animal abuse cases last year. "My office will continue to vigorously prosecute animal abusers and seek justice for these vulnerable victims."
McNicholas was indicted for aggravated cruelty to animals, as well as torturing and injuring animals. His bail was set at $1,000.
His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
