Maximum Term Urged for Man in Dog Slaying

Prosecutors plan to seek the maximum penalty--three years in prison--at the sentencing today of a man who tossed a dog to its death in a bout of road rage.

“It’s the ultimate act of hostility toward the owner of the dog to take it from her and kill it in front of her,” prosecutor Al Weger said. Weger said Andrew Burnett had shown “no remorse.”

Burnett, 27, was convicted last month of animal cruelty for throwing a bichon frise named Leo into oncoming traffic after a fender-bender last year with the dog’s owner.

The prosecutor’s recommendation is at odds with that of the Santa Clara County Probation Department, which said that Burnett has shown remorse and should be given probation.