Man Kills Misbehaving Puppy Before Steelers Game

Admin: Kenn Bell

Categories: Inhumane Practices, Law Enforcement, News

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I thought we could all use a reminder of what Animal Control and Police deal with on a too-frequent basis. I hope Woodson goes to jail for a very long time, but with our lax animal cruelty laws, your guess is as good as mine.

– Kenn

By Jim McKinnon For Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Bridgeville man told police he killed his girlfriend’s puppy yesterday afternoon because the animal would not behave before the Steelers football game broadcast.

William Woodson, 22, is being held on $25,000 bail in the Allegheny County Jail, pending a preliminary hearing on animal cruelty at 1 p.m. next Monday before District Judge Elaine McGraw in Bridgeville.

The puppy, a 13-week-old pit bull named Flip, had been the focal point of recent arguments between Mr. Woodson and his girlfriend, Christine Gielarowski, 21, with whom Mr. Woodson lives on Jane Way.

Ms. Gielarowski still may face charges after she gave police a false name and address, then refused to identify her boyfriend as the suspect, officials said.

A witness called Bridgeville police at 1:09 p.m. after the suspect, who was supposed to have been walking the dog, instead was kicking it down the street, according to a police affidavit.

Ms. Gielarowski told police her boyfriend kicked the dog because the pup would not walk with them. When the near lifeless dog no longer was able to move, Mr. Woodson walked away from it and his girlfriend, she told police.

The witness called police after he found the animal lying limp and dying in the 100 block of Union Street. By the time police arrived, the dog was dead and Mr. Woodson was gone.

After Ms. Gielarowski gave police her real name, officers contacted her parents and learned Mr. Woodson’s name.

Police were told the suspect was at a friend’s residence. Police called the friend, who put Mr. Woodson on the phone, but the suspect refused to surrender.

Police went to the residence and apprehended the suspect as he was leaving through the back door, the affidavit said.

Mr. Woodson declined to acknowledge the reading of his rights as he was arrested. However, waiting in the cruiser at the police station, he spoke, unsolicited, with one of the officers.

According to the affidavit, Mr. Woodson said he argued with Ms. Gielarowski about buying the dog to live at their residence.

“He admitted the dog would not behave prior to the Steelers game and that he became upset at it,” according to the affidavit.