I’ve written about the connection between animal cruelty and spousal abuse before.  There is a very direct and common connection between these two behaviours.  Often with the abuser threatening those things loved and cared for by the abused in an attempt to gain control of their spouse.  Sadly, these threats leave the abused feeling as if they have little choice in the situation.  They can’t leave or refuse demands without feeling like their loved ones, children, relatives and pets will be harmed.   Sadly, this is what happened to a young woman and her small dog in New York.  Farah Benoit, 25, lost her beloved Shih Tzu, Zahara, to the angry actions of her boyfriend who was mad over their relationship ending.    Sherman Haynes, 27, threw the dog out of the third floor window of the Brooklyn apartment building they shared, a year ago in September of 2007.  This occurred when Benoit arrived at the apartment to pick up some of her things during a break up.  Haynes responded by throwing her belongings out the window and then the dog.  He is accused of grabbing Zahara by the neck and yelling, ‘You need your dog?’  then throwing her over the balcony.    Zahara did not survive, suffering broken legs, collapsed lungs and internal bleeding; she later died at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan.    ASPCA Assistant Director Joseph Pentangelo stated, ‘This just demonstrates the link between domestic violence and animal cruelty.’   It has taken a full year for ASPCA Investigators to get a hold of Haynes in order to arrest him.  However they finally got a hold of him by setting up a decoy date with the man over the internet.  He’s been arrested and is expected to be arraigned at a later date.   Source: http://www.wnbc.com/news/17394817/detail.html?rss=ny&psp=news