Breaking: Man Allegedly Attempts to Hack His Dog to Death With Axe -- In Catholic Church

​Father James Garcia confirmed a disturbing story SF Weekly recently got wind of. Yesterday evening a man apparently attempted to kill his own dog with an axe at the Immaculate Conception Church at 3255 Folsom.

Police took the man into custody; according to Garcia he was sent to San Francisco General Hospital "because of his emotional distress." The dog, meanwhile, was alive as of yesterday night. San Francisco Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Deb Campbell is checking to see if that's still the case.

Garcia, the associate pastor at the St. Anthony of Padua parish (which oversees Immaculate Conception), said the man was not a regular church-goer as far as he knew.

We will update this story as we learn more. 

Update, 12:30 p.m.: Deb Campbell phoned us back with sad news. Due to the extent of its injuries, the pit bull dog was euthanized this morning.

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