A woman who killed her and her boyfriend’s dog, 12-week-old Lily, has been sentenced 3 years in prison. Elvira Monroy (dob 6/21/96) will be eligible for parole after 15 months. She previously pled guilty to the charge of Willfully or Maliciously Torture, Maim, Mutilate or Kill a Dog Kept for Companionship or Pleasure, which is a category D felony in Nevada.
“The killing of this innocent 12-week-old puppy was heartbreaking and inexcusable,” says Chris Hicks, Washoe County District Attorney. “It’s hard to comprehend how anyone could inflict such cruelty on a defenseless animal. In Washoe County, we take these cases seriously because our community believes, as I do, that how we treat the most vulnerable – including animals – is a reflection of who we are. This prison sentence represents justice not just for this puppy, but for every person who believes in compassion and accountability. We will always stand up for those who cannot protect themselves.”
Monroy was arrested by Reno Police officers in July of last year, after they had responded to the defendant and her boyfriend’s home. The 48-year-old man told law enforcement that the pair had gotten into an argument the night before and had broken up. Officers learned that in the middle of the night, Monroy woke up her now ex-boyfriend, saying that she had killed the 12-week-old puppy and tossed her in their apartment dumpster. The man didn’t initially believe Monroy had killed the dog, as he didn’t think she was capable of that type of violence. In the morning, the ex-boyfriend decided to investigate the dumpster, where he found the dog’s remains. At that time, he called Reno Police. The investigation discovered that Monroy had strangled the dog with a black electrical cord.
At sentencing, Deputy District Attorney Andrea Dominguez argued that the puppy was meant for companionship and was reliant on Monroy to care for and love her, and that the actions of Monroy were extremely heinous and deserving of prison time. The Honorable Kathleen Sigurdson presided and imposed the sentence.
Lily (white dog) – courtesy of the family
