An Austin woman turned herself in to police Thursday, charged with animal cruelty.
Investigators say Joanne Hinojosa stabbed a dog to death at a home in South Austin.
The dog belonged to a friend of Hinojosa's husband. She is separated from her husband.
Hinojosa was arguing violently with her husband and the friend outside the house and was then was left alone inside with the dog, witnesses said.
One man called the police and when officers arrived, they say they found the dog bleeding with a knife sticking out of its side.
They took the animal to an animal hospital but doctors could not save the dog. The dog had 27 stab injuries when it got to the hospital, doctors said.
Police say in situations of family violence, animals are also at risk.
"This is not the first time that these two crimes have been linked. I believe in reading this, that her anger with her estranged husband was what did cause her to vent those frustrations on the dog," Lt. Doug Dukes of the Austin Police Department said.
Hinojosa faces state jail felony charges for animal cruelty.
