Skip to main content
Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

Authorities: Man charged after puppy found hanged in tree

Red and blue lights of police car in night time, crime scene. Night patrolling the city. Abstract blurry image. policelight policelights / Getty Images
Red and blue lights of police car in night time, crime scene. Night patrolling the city. Abstract blurry image. policelight policelights / Getty Images Red and blue lights of police car in night time, crime scene. Night patrolling the city. Abstract blurry image. policelight policelights / Getty Images

By Associated Press 1 min read

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (AP) – A man accused of hanging a puppy from a tree because he didn’t have a gun to kill it has been charged with animal cruelty, authorities said Friday.

News outlets reported that Jasen Charles Howard, 42, of Wheatfield, Indiana, was arrested Thursday in Jackson County in northeast Alabama.

Jackson County Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said a witness saw a man take a puppy into the woods, and the person then entered the woods and found the animal hanging from a rope.

The witness cut down the puppy and called police, who located Howard while he was driving.

Howard allegedly told authorities the puppy had potentially deadly parvo and he hanged it because he didn’t have a gun to put it out of its misery. The puppy, taken to an animal shelter, tested negative for the disease and is doing OK, Harnen said.