Video of dog abuse also shows tattoo that helps ID South Huntingdon man in case involving shih tzu Snickers

Fourteen graphic videos depicting the abuse of a dog were played by prosecutors Wednesday in district court in support of criminal charges against a man accused in the incidents.

District Judge Charles Moore stood behind the attorneys and watched as the clips, most a few seconds long, were played on the laptop of Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Ranger. The cellphone videos showed a person’s hands hitting or choking the shih tzu named Snickers, and the animal sometimes barking or growling in response.

In one of them, a tattoo on the left forearm of the person abusing the dog is visible. State police used that tattoo and other evidence to help them identify Zachary Hixson, 30, as the person behind the recordings.

“Let me see your left arm,” Moore said to Hixson while watching the videos.

Hixson moved his arm.

“Thank you,” Moore said before retaking the bench to continue hearing preliminary hearing testimony.

He later ordered all charges against Hixson to be held for trial.

Hixson was arrested July 26 after the dog’s owner reported finding the videos on a cellphone she provided to him while he was staying at her South Huntingdon home. He was charged then with neglect of animals and two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. A count of animal cruelty was added Wednesday by prosecutors.

Trooper Andrew Prizzi testified the dog’s owner said Snickers’ health had been declining over the past couple of months and the animal wasn’t able to walk. The owner shared the cellphone with police, and Prizzi said he found numerous videos on it depicting animal abuse, as well as text and Facebook messages authorities believe were authored by Hixson.

During his arrest, Hixson “made statements regarding his abuse of the dog that matched up to the contents of the videos,” Prizzi testified. A veterinarian determined Snickers had a spinal fracture and was unable to use its legs, he said.

Hixson claimed to have been disciplining the dog after it bit him, Prizzi testified.

“In the text messages, he stated … he was intending to kill it,” Prizzi said.

Public defender Amanda Shields argued that prosecutors hadn’t proved Hixson was the person behind the recordings.

“We don’t see this person’s face in the video,” she said. “We only see their hands.”

The dog’s owner was not at the hearing because she has left the state and did not receive notice, Ranger said. Shields unsuccessfully attempted to have the case thrown out because of the owner’s absence.

“Her testimony is not necessary, your honor,” Ranger argued. “This was all based on a video found on a cellphone.”

Hixson remains at the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bail.