Monongahela man charged with animal cruelty in dog shooting
MONONGAHELA – A Monongahela man has been charged with shooting his dog during a botched suicide attempt last year after he set fire to his house.
District Judge Mark Wilson signed a warrant Tuesday for the arrest of Charles David Sleith Jr. for aggravated cruelty to an animal and related charges filed by state police, court records show.
Monongahela police turned the case over to state troopers, who determined Sleith wanted to die Sept. 2 because he was depressed about financial problems, court records allege.
Police said Sleith told investigators he didn’t remember what happened before firefighters were called about 1:15 p.m. to his house at 703 Yohe St. to extinguish a fire in his basement.
He said he drank rum and cokes that day and had told friends earlier that if he ever killed himself, he would also need to kill his pit bull, Felonia, because she couldn’t live without him, police stated in the affidavit.
Firefighters found Sleith, 51, and his dog in or near his living room. The dog was shot in the torso and needed emergency surgery, court records indicate. It was not immediately known Wednesday who is caring for Felonia.
Sleith had gunshot wounds to his chest and head and was taken to a hospital in Pittsburgh. A .40-caliber rifle was discovered nearby with spent shells, police said.
Sleith also faces charges of illegal possession of a firearm, possession of an instrument of a crime and disorderly conduct.