Bartlett man indicted in dog abuse case

The last time Jennifer Linhart saw her beloved pooch, "Scooby," she said the powder white bichon frise was happy and healthy.

Less than one hour later, her live-in boyfriend called frantic to report he found Scooby lying on his back, covered in blood in their Woodridge apartment.

"I automatically became hysterical," Linhart said. "Scooby was the love of my life. I had him for years. People would always comment what a good dog he was. He was sweet and affectionate."

A DuPage County grand jury this week indicted her ex-boyfriend, Mario E. Spizzirri, of Bartlett, on aggravated animal cruelty charges. A judge has issued a $50,000 warrant for his arrest.

Spizzirri, 29, is charged with fracturing the dog's skull Feb. 25 in the former couple's apartment on the 6500 block of Double Eagle Drive in Woodridge. Linhart said she left the pooch alone with Spizzirri for about 40 minutes before he called her.

The 9-year-old male pooch had to be put down because his injuries were so severe. Police become involved after a veterinarian at the Arboretum View in Downers Grove, where Spizzirri took the nearly 10-pound dog at Linhart's urging, called to report the suspected abuse.

Police took Scooby's death seriously. They sent his remains for a necropsy to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. Doctors found Scooby died due to blunt force trauma.

Spizzirri, who manages his family's Plainfield restaurant, declined comment. But his attorney, Sam Amirante, said they will fight the allegations.

"He's a good member of the community with no criminal background," Amirante said. "He maintains his innocence and, with the fair administration of justice, we anticipate he'll be exonerated."

A few years ago, Illinois lawmakers upgraded aggravated animal cruelty to a felony punishable by probation or up to three years in prison. The grand jury indicted Spizzirri Tuesday.

"I remember kissing his little bloody face goodbye," Linhart said. "The vet said in her 10 years of practice, this was by far the worst case of animal abuse she'd ever seen. It was the worst thing I've ever been through. Not only did I lose my dog, I also lost the man I loved and thought I was going to marry."

Spizzirri, of 470 Woodhollow Lane, is expected to turn himself in to authorities soon. He must post $5,000 for his release pending court.