Pet killed by angry ex-boyfriend

Franklin County, In. — Deputies in Rush County are investigating a report of a Laurel man who allegedly shot his ex-girlfriend’s dog in the face.

After arguing via text messages Makayla Cate drove from her New Castle home to the home of Jacob David Hooten on Quarry Road in Laurel. Cate found her black lab on his back porch suffering from a shotgun blast to the right side of his face. Cate immediately sought help for the dog, but the dog had to be euthanized hours later.

Police made the discovery when Cate slid off the road in Rush County and needed help.

Police went to Hooten’s home after speaking to Cate. Police found two pools of blood near the back porch of the home where the dog was found hours earlier. Hooten was placed under arrest after admitting to threatening to harm the dog and then shooting the animal in the face with a 16-gauge shotgun.

Hooten has been charged with felony torturing or mutilating an animal and taken to the Franklin County Security Center.