Man Charged With Shooting Dog, Cutting Its Throat At State Park

LEONARDTOWN, Md. (WJZ) -- A Maryland man is charged in a disturbing case of animal cruelty.

Natural Resources Police say Marcus Stauffer, 20, shot a dog on purpose and then cut its throat.

It happened at Newtowne Neck State Park on Christmas Day in St. Mary's County.

Police say Stauffer was deer hunting when he saw the one-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever and shot it twice with a muzzleloader. He climbed down from the stand and cut the dog's throat.

The dog belonged to a ranger who lives at the park. It broke free from a porch.

Police say Stauffer told the ranger he thought the dog was a stray, and that he shot it for the public.

Stauffer faces two counts of animal cruelty and destruction of property.

If guilty, he could face up to three years in prison and a fine of $6,500.