Dog's Beating Death: Acworth Man Sentenced to Prison

MARIETTA, GA -- An Acworth man has been sentenced to prison after admitting he injured and later killed a dog.

On Wednesday, Sidney Walker Taylor, 23, pled guilty to two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. Taylor admitted that on April 20, 2015, he was so enraged that “Lilly,” a 12-pound Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, had urinated on the floor that he slammed the dog’s head into the floor, knocking out three of her teeth.

A week later, Taylor beat “Lilly” so severely that she died of multi-organ hemorrhage, according to a necropsy.

“Scientific research clearly shows that people who commit animal cruelty often advance to injuring intimate partners, children and the elderly,” said ADA Sherwin K. Figueroa, one of two prosecutors in the Cobb DA’s Office who have special training in animal-abuse cases. “That is why we put these defendants in prison and monitor them closely once on probation.”

The investigation in this case also determined that Taylor had previously killed three cats.

After accepting the plea, Cobb Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole sentenced Taylor to 10 years, with three years to serve in prison and the rest on probation. Judge Poole also ordered Taylor to pay a $1,000 fine.