Man leaves dying rabbit to avenge his firing

NEW YORK Gerard Skills is being held on $10,000 bail after his arraignment Thursday on aggravated animal cruelty and harassment charges. He also faces criminal mischief charges related to a series of tire slashings.

No telephone number could be found for Skills, and it couldn't be immediately determined whether he has a lawyer.

Westchester Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Police Chief Kenneth Ross says the 57-year-old Skills left the bleeding rabbit May 2 to retaliate against the Mount Pleasant taxi service that dismissed him.

Ross says Skills admitted to the rabbit slaying while police questioned him about a tire slashing Wednesday.