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Former ASU player says God told him to sacrifice poodle in smoker

Related Topics: Poodle, Misdemeanor

A former Arizona State football player was arrested Saturday after he was accused of killing his family's poodle and throwing it into a smoker, The Arizona Republic reported.

Patrick Zane Thompson was charged with two felony and four misdemeanor counts related to animal cruelty after he broke his dog's neck and placed it in a smoker as a sacrifice.

Police were called and found Thompson on the sidewalk outside his home in Goodyear, Ariz., with a self-inflicted gash on his arm.

The 42-year-old played for Arizona State as a right guard in 1996 when the Sun Devils went 11-1 and lost to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.