An Arkansas man accused of killing his dog by striking it three times in the head with a rock is facing a charge of felony animal cruelty, the Texarkana Gazette reported.
Andrew Littles, 27, of Texarkana told investigators last week that the small, long-haired terrier had been "rolling around in a carcass of another animal" after he let it outside, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in the case. Littles described going on a run with the dog and said he let the dog back in the house after returning home from an outing that night.
Littles told the officers that he felt "what he described as fleas in his mouth " and that the dog "kept biting at itself and shaking while in the living room," authorities wrote.
"Littles advised that the dog kept shaking so he took a stone and struck it on the head," the affidavit states. "Littles advised that the dog yelped so he struck it on the head again, which made the dog yelp again. Littles advised that he then struck it on the head for a third time, at which time the dog stopped moving."
Littles told investigators the dog was not breathing the next day.
While officials were speaking with Littles, they inquired about the animal carcass Littles said the terrier had been rolling around in the day before.
"Littles advised that it was his other dog," the affidavit states, noting the officer "observed the remains of a small breed dog that appeared to have been there for a while."
Littles said that dog began "acting sick" after a meal of chicken bones, according to the affidavit.
Littles is being held in the Miller County jail. A civil hearing to address a petition to commit him for mental health reasons is scheduled for Tuesday.