Anne Silva, a Gas Company spokeswoman, said in a statement the worker, whom she did not indentify, "did not follow the company's policies and procedures." The statement did not say what punishment the worker faces or what policy he violated.

"Pets hold a special place in our hearts and minds and we feel very badly," she said.

Animal contol officers are investigating the case to determine what, if any, charges would be filed.

Rodriguez said that when the meter reader arrived at her home, she told him to until she put her three dogs away before he opened up the gate.

She said he went in despite her request and her dogs confronted him. He used rubber stick to strike Bean Bean in the head, said Rodriguez, through tears.

She rushed her dog to an animal hospital, but Bean Bean died, said Frank Padilla, humane officer with the Humane Society of San Bernardino.

A necropsy has been performed, but the official cause of death has not yet been released. Padilla said that the Yorkie dog suffered from blunt force trauma to the head.