Mount Vernon Resident Charged for Fatally Stabbing Golden Retriever: Police

A Mount Vernon area resident has been charged with felony animal cruelty, according to Fairfax County Police.

Police say that Joseph V. Hoeft, 19, stabbed a dog on Tuesday in the 300 block of Doeg Indian Court in the Mount Vernon area. Police say that Hoeft was the owner of the dog.

The dog was a 9-month old Golden Retriever, according to Lucy Caldwell, FCPD spokeswoman.

The dog died as a result of the injuries.

Here’s more information, from an article in the Huffington Post, on why the FBI has made animal cruelty a “top tier” felony.