Jackson County Man Arrested for Animal Cruelty

By B.A. Little, Reporter • beverlyannette@southerntorch.com

JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. – Jasen Charles Howard, 42, of Wheatfield, Ind., was booked into the Jackson County Jail Thursday on charges of animal cruelty and drug paraphernalia possession. He hung a puppy from a tree in the woods near Section.

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

The witness cut down the puppy and called the sheriff’s office and Section police.  The puppy was taken in by animal control officials and is OK.

Authorities stopped Howard’s car and he told officers the dog had parvo but he didn’t have a gun to put it out of its misery. However,  the test for parvo came back negative according to authorities.

Another dog in Howard’s car was also taken by animal control, Harnen said. 

Howard is jailed on bonds totaling $5,300.