Man Drops 2 Poodles From Parking Tower, Killing 1; Charged With Animal Cruelty

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 23, 2017 3:30PM

An Oak Lawn man faces two felony counts of animal cruelty after he deliberately dropped two poodles on Saturday from the fifth floor of a parking garage at Advocate Christ Hospital, in Oak Lawn, according to police. One dog was killed; the other dog survived.

The man, reportedly identified by the Cook County State's Attorney as Edward Hanania, 22, dropped the dogs from the tower after he responded to a lost-and-found posting on Facebook and falsely claimed they belonged to him, police believe. Six-year-old dog Garo died from the top-story fall. One-year-old dog Angel lived but requires surgery, according to WGN.

"I can't imagine why somebody would do it," Oak Lawn Police Division Chief Randy Palmer said, according to ABC7. "I don't know if this individual went there with that specific intent of doing and at some point that did entire his mind, and carry out the act."

The dogs' rightful owner was reunited with his surviving pet but is having a hard time coping with the incident. "I had an elderly gentleman crying so hard and praying over the dead body and over Angel, and Angel's been crying for him now," said Linda Estrada, of Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League, according to WGN.

Hanania is due in bond court on Tuesday.