US firefighter arrested for killing pet puppy

Los Angles, Jan 3: An US firefighter in California has been arrested and placed on paid administrative leave for allegedly killing his five-month-old pet German shepherd.

Nicholas Joseph Luiz, 32, with the Santa Clara Fire Department is off the job following his arrest last week after he reportedly admitted to killing his pet dog at his Napa home. Police allege he had been abusing the animal for its entire five-month life, authorities said.

Luiz was arrested on Wednesday and booked on suspicion of felony animal cruelty, according to a news release from the Napa Police Department. He is not in jail.

Santa Clara Fire Chief Bill Kelly said Luiz has been placed on paid administrative leave and that the department has launched an internal investigation, Mercury News reported.

"It was disturbing when I heard this news," Kelly said. "We are taking this very seriously." Officers were called on Tuesday night to Luiz's home on Massa Drive after receiving multiple complaints that he had been abusing his dog "for the last several months" and that he may have killed the animal.

The officers knocked on the door but got no answer and returned Wednesday morning with a search warrant.

While serving the warrant, police said they found the dog dead at the home, and that Luiz admitted to killing the animal.

Napa police Captain Jeff Troendly said investigators believe the dog was repeatedly slammed to the ground in the backyard.

PTI