Laurel Man Who Shot Ex-Girlfriend's Dog Sentenced To Jail Time

Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 10:07 AM

The incident happened in December 2017 following a text message argument.

Jacob David Hooten. File photo.

(Franklin County, Ind.) – A Laurel man has learned his fate after shooting his ex-girlfriend’s dog in the face with a shotgun.

Jacob David Hooten fired a 16-gauge shotgun into the face of a six-month-old puppy at his Quarry Road home in Laurel back in December of 2017. The dog didn't immediately die, but did suffer a mutilated jaw.

Authorities didn't learn of the shooting until the dog's owner, Makayla Cate, crashed her car in Rush County, while attempting to get the pet some care.

Hooten pleaded guilty on December 19 to Torturing or Mutilating a Vertebrate Animal (Level 6 felony). He was subsequently sentenced to 30 months behind bars and 15 months on probation.

Sadly, the dog had to be euthanized because there was no assurance he would survive. The puppy was put down about 10 hours after the shooting.

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