Owner charged with beating dog to death

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A 48-year-old man is accused of brutally killing the family’s dog simply because it would not leave the room, according to police.

Debbie George with the City of Suffolk told WAVY.com John Rudolph Babb of Suffolk was arrested on Sept. 26 on charges of maim, kill, poison animal or fowl, and animal cruelty.

Babb allegedly beat the family’s black and white female lab mix to death at his home along Redwood Court on Aug. 13.

"For something so horrible to happen to her, I don't understand it," said Babb's stepson, Logan Harris. "I don't understand why that had to be the way she passed."

According to police, Babb beat the dog in the head and body because she would not leave the room.

"I heard my dad and my brother saying, 'Kick Kuma,' and then I opened the door a little but and I saw them beating her and I was just stunned," said Babb's son Avery Babb.

Avery said the attack continued for several minutes and it wasn't long before Kuma was dead.

"Last thing I remember was going down there and seeing Kuma lying on the corner near my dresser and she would take a breath every 30 or 40 seconds apart and she did this about six times and then she just finally passed out," Avery said.

George said a necropsy on the dog revealed she died from blunt force trauma.

Friday afternoon, George told WAVY.com a 15-year-old was also charged with animal cruelty in the incident.

Babb is facing additional charges of grand larceny and contributing to the delinquency of a child from a larceny in Wal-Mart during which a 15-year-old child was with him.