infoIndiana man accused of hanging puppy from tree in Alabama

Indiana man accused of hanging puppy from tree in Alabama

Authorities jailed a man Thursday morning on charges that he hung a puppy from a tree in the woods near Section.

Jasen Charles Howard, 42, of Wheatfield, Ind., was booked into the Jackson County Jail Thursday on charges of animal cruelty and drug paraphernalia possession.

A witness saw Howard take the puppy into the woods, said Jackson County Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen. When the witness went into the woods to check on the dog, it was found hanging.

The witness cut down the puppy and called the police, Harnen said. The puppy was taken in by animal control officials and is OK.

When authorities stopped Howard\u00e2\u0080\u0099s car, he told them the dog had parvo, a highly contagious canine virus, but he didn\u00e2\u0080\u0099t have a gun to put it down, Harnen said. A test for parvo on the puppy came back negative, he said.

Another dog Howard had with him when he was stopped also was taken by animal control, Harnen said. An animal control officer said the older dog was Howard\u00e2\u0080\u0099s longtime pet and the puppy had recently been given to him.