Man sentenced to jail for deadly attack on service dog at El Cajon motel

Jeffrey Todd Buntich, a 25-year-old man, received a one-year county jail sentence for the brutal kicking of a senior Shih Tzu service dog named Poochie at a Motel 6 in El Cajon, California. The incident, which occurred in May 2024, was marked by Buntich's threats to kill the dog before he delivered a fatal kick that caused internal injuries, leading to Poochie's euthanization. After the attack, Buntich fled to Sacramento but was apprehended six months later. Upon pleading guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty, he was also sentenced to two years of probation and a five-year ban on owning animals. San Diego Humane Society officials highlighted the case as a tragic reminder of the severe consequences of violence against animals.

Jace Huggins, chief of Humane Law Enforcement at the organization, expressed gratitude for the justice served, emphasizing the need for accountability in such cases. This incident raises broader concerns about animal welfare and the legal ramifications of cruelty. It serves as a call to action for communities to strengthen protections for vulnerable animals.