A Texarkana, Ark., man accused of killing a small Terrier with a rock was arrested on a felony animal cruelty charge Monday.
Russell Littles, 27, allegedly called Lifenet on Monday morning seeking help for a dog that wasn’t breathing, according to a probable cause affidavit. The call was transferred to police and animal control.
Littles was allegedly “not making much sense” when Texarkana, Ark., police and animal control spoke with him Monday at his home in the 5000 block of Hunters Lane. Littles allegedly said that the day before his dog had been rolling around in the carcass of another animal after he let it outside to use the bathroom.
Littles allegedly reported that he was out for most of the day Oct. 14 and that he let the dog back into his house when he got home that evening.
“At this time, Littles advised that he kept feeling what he described as fleas in his mouth. Littles stated that the dog kept biting at itself and shaking while in the living room area of the residence,” the probable cause affidavit states.
Littles said he struck the dog in the head with a stone because it kept shaking and that he struck it two more times after the dog yelped. Littles allegedly told officers he put the dog on his couch after the dog stopped moving.
The following morning, when Littles realized the dog hadn’t moved and wasn’t breathing, he called for help. While talking to Littles, officers asked what kind of carcass it was that the small Terrier he’d hit with a rock had been rolling around in the day before.
“Littles advised that it was his other dog,” the affidavit states. “I observed the remains of a small breed dog that appeared to have been there for a while.”
Littles was unable to give a clear answer as to how his other dog had died though he did allegedly mention that the dog appeared to act sick after eating some chicken bones.
Littles was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty and on two outstanding misdemeanor warrants. He is scheduled to appear before Miller County Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson next week on a civil commitment petition.
