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Man Threw Dogs Off Roof After Falsely Claiming To Be Their Owner: Charges

 Left: Angel was one of two poodles thrown off a five-story building in suburban Oak Lawn. He survived. His father, 6-year-old Guerro, did not. Right: Edward Hanania, 22, is charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
Left: Angel was one of two poodles thrown off a five-story building in suburban Oak Lawn. He survived. His father, 6-year-old Guerro, did not. Right: Edward Hanania, 22, is charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
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Facebook/AnimalWelfareLeague; Cook County Sheriff's Office

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The suburban man who threw two poodles off a five-story building, killing one, had answered a Facebook ad looking for the lost dogs' owner after the two escaped from their Chicago home, prosecutors said Tuesday.

A good Samaritan who found the dogs, white miniature poodles, posted the online ad Friday seeking the pups' owner, according to authorities.

Edward Hanania, 22, was quick to respond, even though he didn't own the dogs nor even know their rightful owner. Prosecutors said he went as far as to give the good Samaritan a $20 reward for the poodles' safe return.

After he was given the dogs, Hanania was captured on surveillance footage on Saturday tossing the dogs from a five-story parking garage at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, prosecutors said.

 Angel was one of two poodles thrown off a five-story building in suburban Oak Lawn. He survived. His father, 6-year-old Guerro, did not.
Angel was one of two poodles thrown off a five-story building in suburban Oak Lawn. He survived. His father, 6-year-old Guerro, did not.
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Facebook/AnimalWelfareLeague

No motive for the dogs' abuse was given in court Tuesday.

One dog, 6-year-old Guerro, died. His son, 1-year-old Angel, survived with a broken leg and head trauma, according to staffers at the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge.

Hanania, who is on probation for a drug conviction, has been charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Bond was set Tuesday at $350,000.

Animal Welfare League President Linda Estrada told the Tribune the dogs' owner was "devastated" when he heard what happened to his beloved pets, who escaped from his Chicago home during a recent family get-together.

Angel was rushed to the league's clinic after the drop Saturday and reunited with his owner once veterinarians spotted a microchip, Estrada said.

"The owner ... wishes to remain anonymous as this heartbreaking moment in his life is surreal," a league staffer wrote on Facebook. "Angel wagged his bruised little tail with joy when he saw his owner. Both dogs were well cared for [like] a member of the family."

According to the league, Angel has a sweet personality and likes to "give kisses." He will require surgery to repair his broken leg.

Hanania, of Oak Lawn, was convicted in March of manufacturing and delivering heroin. He was sentenced to two years probation. Previous convictions include battery and retail theft.