Police: Sacramento man arrested in drowning of dog with bowling ball

A Sacramento man has been arrested and accused of attaching a 12-pound bowling ball to a border collie named Zelda and drowning her.

William Meek, 47, was found in a hotel in the 800 block of South Virginia Street in Reno, according to a statement from the Reno Police Department on Wednesday.

Meek was wanted in connection with a $50,000 warrant alleging malicious maiming of animals as well as a separate warrant for possessing a controlled substance.

Authorities said he attached the bowling ball to the dog’s neck and threw her into the American River, causing her to drown.

Zelda’s owner, who was not identified, told investigators that Meek was supposed to take the dog to an animal shelter.

A microchip implanted in the dog led Sacramento police to Meek, who they described as “very violent,” authorities said.

Zelda’s death prompted thousands of people to post on the Sacramento-based Front Street Animal Shelter’s Facebook page.

The shelter released information about Zelda and sought the public’s help in finding Meek.

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