Man charged in dog’s death

A man suspected of using an ax to kill his brother’s pet basset hound was charged Monday with felony animal cruelty, prosecutors said.

Rudy Fernandez, 36, was arrested Thursday after he allegedly tried for half an hour to strangle the dog, named Samantha, and then struck her with an ax, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Debbie Knaan. The dog later died of its injuries.

Los Angeles police said Fernandez tried to discard the animal, but police found the remains in a trash bin after receiving a call from a tipster.

The basset hound belonged to his brother, who was in jail at the time of the alleged attack, police said. Fernandez, who pleaded not guilty, faces a maximum of four years in state prison if convicted. He is being held in lieu of $40,000 bail, prosecutors said.

-- Andrew Blankstein