PEORIA, Ariz. (February 11, 2026) — In Defense of Animals is astonished at the lenient sentencing of Kenneth McGaughey, who was charged with felony animal cruelty after being caught on video beating his neighbor's chihuahua Chiquilin to death with a shovel.

On February 10, Judge Terese Gantz sentenced McGaughey to 30 days in jail and three years of probation for the brutal killing. 

In Defense of Animals sent Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell a letter with 13,747 signatures supporting the prosecution, conviction, no probation, and a no-deal stiff sentencing of McGaughey. 

On April 18, 2025, Chiqui wandered into McGaughey’s walled, but not gated, yard. It is unknown what transpired on the other side of the wall, but McGaughey was captured on video repeatedly slamming a shovel downward and throwing Chiquilin over the wall like a piece of trash.

Chiquilin’s family was told by a neighbor that another resident was caught on camera beating him with a shovel and tossing his body over a wall. Chiquilin tragically didn't survive.

On April 23, 2025, the Peoria Police recommended that McGaughey be charged with felony animal cruelty. On May 29, 2025, he was indicted by the grand jury.

“McGaughey claimed Chiqui had his cat in his mouth, but that is no excuse for what he did. His failure to take control of the situation with logic cost a little dog’s life, his family’s grief, but at least he’ll experience the consequence,” said Doll Stanley, In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner.  

Penalties for felony animal cruelty range from six months to 2.5 years in prison, up to $150,000 fine, and the court may choose probation. 

Arizona Senate Bill 1234, which  would have strengthened the state’s animal cruelty law, passed in the Senate on March 27, 2025, but died in the House on March 26th.  

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Contact: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters defending animals, people, and the environment through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California, and rural Mississippi since 1983. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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