PITTSBURGH—A Pittsburgh man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly used a machete to decapitate his mother's Chihuahua.

Authorities said they were called to the home Wednesday evening, and Matthew Ondo's parents showed them the remains of the dog, named Izzy, along with a bloody machete and butcher knife.

According to a criminal complaint, Ondo, 30, at first denied killing the dog, then claimed the devil, Allah or "the Mexican" did it. Ondo's parents told police their son is an unemployed drug addict who has emotional problems.



A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.