Schenectady man admits to beating puppy to death

A Schenectady man is expected to receive 2 years in jail after admitting to beating a puppy to death.

Elijah Lewis, 25, pleaded guilty in Schenectady County Court on Monday to aggravated cruelty to animals. Lewis beat a 4-month-old Chihuahua mix puppy named Spot so severely that it needed to be euthanized, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the incident happened on Oct. 5 at a residence in Schenectady. The dog’s owner was a former intimate partner of Lewis, and investigators said he had jealousy issues. Spot was taken to Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital at 222 Troy Schenectady Road in Latham with severe injuries to its head, chest and lungs. The canine had a traumatic brain injury, and hospital staff decided to euthanize the puppy. Lewis was arrested that same day.

Lewis also had been charged with criminal mischief and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, but those counts were dropped as part of the plea deal. He also will be banned from owning or having any pets for 100 years and be required to pay restitution for the cost of life-saving efforts for the dog.

Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3.

“Mr. Lewis deserves a maximum sentence for beating this little dog to death out of spite directed at its owner, a woman with whom he had been in a relationship. A man capable of such wanton cruelty is dangerous to anyone,” said Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney in a statement. “Although their efforts on behalf of Spot proved fruitless, I thank the first responders and veterinarians that tried to save his life, as well as the experts at Cornell that provided the evidence necessary to bring this case.”