Texas Man Stabs Nephew's Dog With Steak Knife in Retaliation for Pet Killing His Chicken

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Owen Jay Pettit, 45, was arrested on a charge of cruelty to a non-livestock animal. He reportedly told police he was seeking to avenge his nephew's dog attack on his chicken. Williamson County Sheriff's Office

A man has told police that he stabbed the shoulder of his nephew's dog with a steak knife in a revenge attack for the animal killing his chicken, it has been reported.

Owen Jay Petit, 45 reportedly pinned down the animal belonging to his 28-year-old nephew, who lived on the same property as him, in the town of Leander, north of Austin, Texas.

Read more: Teacher who fed live puppy to turtle in front of pupils found not guilty of animal cruelty

The Austin American-Statesman reported that the nephew heard his dog Jessica barking around midday on Saturday.

He arrived at the scene to see Petit holding the animal down on the ground, before he plunged the knife in.

He shouted at his uncle to stop and the animal limped away with the 3.5-inch blade still in his shoulder. The nephew removed the knife from the dog's shoulder before authorities arrived.

The affidavit filed in Travis County stated: "Pettit openly admitted he committed the act and showed no remorse."

Officers found the knife, which was matted with dog hair. The animal was recovering after it was given stitches, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Pettit told police that he stabbed the dog because it had killed his chicken last year. He was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, a third-degree felony that could carry a 10-year jail sentence.

Last week, a teacher in Idaho teacher who fed a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of students was found not guilty of animal cruelty. Robert Crosland said he thought he had acted humanely in putting the dying puppy out of its misery and "not to let the animal suffer."

Last July, an active duty U.S. Marine was arrested and accused of commercial burglary and animal cruelty after allegedly breaking into a California animal shelter and stealing two dogs.

Also that month, police in Florida arrested two owners who allegedly locked a puppy in their car trunk before going shopping for more than 30 minutes.

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