LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Louisville man was arrested and charged with animal cruelty Thursday after police said he allegedly set his dog on fire.
According to an arrest citation, Louisville Metro Police officers responded to a home in the 900 block of Cecil Avenue around 12:53 p.m. after a woman reported her husband had set her dogs on fire.
Police said the woman told officers she and her husband, identified as 37-year-old Bobby Atkinson, got into an argument. During the dispute, Atkinson was armed with a handgun and allegedly threatened to shoot her.
The woman left the house with her children and later returned to pick up medication for one of the children, according to the citation. When she came back, she reportedly heard a smoke alarm going off and smelled something burning inside the home.
Police said the woman found one dog covered in ash with open wounds and burned fur. Another dog was having trouble standing and appeared injured. Officers said both dogs smelled like accelerant and ash.
The dogs were taken to Louisville Metro Animal Services for treatment.
Atkinson was arrested and charged with torture of a dog or cat, second-degree cruelty to animals, menacing and third-degree terroristic threatening.
In arraignment court Friday morning, Atkinson pleaded not guilty and a judge set his bond at $50,000.
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