We responded on Sunday morning (Jan. 26) to a home in the 2000 block of Vermont Avenue in Riverside's Eastside neighborhood. Riverside Police officers were already at the property where the owner had reported that four of his dogs had been apparently stabbed.

The attacks on the dogs happened sometime during the night or early-morning hours.

The dog owner told authorities he had a recent run-in with a man that he described as a transient. The man and the dog owner argued and the man threatened him by saying he was going to "come back."

Animal Control Officer Dylan Gates recovered two dogs that had already died from injuries. The owner of the dogs took two of the injured pets inside his home, but the injuries were so severe that Officer Gates suggested that they be signed over for humane euthanasia.

Officer Gates transported the four dogs – all Chihuahua mixes – to the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley. A Riverside County Animal Services veterinarian will perform necropsies on all four of the dogs, as is standard for animal cruelty investigations.

Inquiries about the animal cruelty case should be directed to the Riverside Police Department.