Woman who killed dog feared for child’s safety

A Haleiwa woman charged with animal cruelty in the death of her pet dog said she cut the dog’s throat with a kitchen knife because she thought her daughter was in danger, police said.

Andrea Fiegle, 36, turned herself in to police Sunday. She is charged with animal cruelty, a Class C felony crime that carries a maximum five-year jail term and a $10,000 fine. Her bail was set at $11,000.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

In a police affidavit, Fiegle told the arresting officer Sunday that the dog did not attack or bite her or her daughter.

However, the dog, which Fiegle had bought for her daughter, kept smelling her "daughter’s private area," she said, according to the affidavit.

"It would not listen, and I tell him to stop but not listen; I cannot control, lost my temper."

The incident occurred at her Paa­laa Road home Sunday. After she surrendered to police, she was arrested on suspicion of cruelty to animals.

Police found the body of the dog in a garbage bag in the home.