Mendes is hopeful the animal can be salvaged for breeding purposes, but if bulls become lazy or don't perform, he says "slaughter comes into play."

The criminal charge comes even as advocates are pushing Utah lawmakers to pass a law that would make egregious animal cruelty, such as torture, a third-degree felony. As it is, acts of violence against animals that are deemed "cruelty" under the law are misdemeanors.

Authorities say what happened to Charley's Nephew can be encompassed in a different statute that allows them to seek a stiffer penalty — criminal mischief as it applies to people's property.

"If someone destroyed your dog, obviously you love your dog, but your dog didn't have the value of this bull," Stringham said.

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