2 charged after social media video shows missing dog used for target practice

ETOWAH COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - Two people are facing charges after a video emerged showing a missing dog being used for target practice with a weapon.

According to Sheriff Jonathon Horton, on June 29, the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office was told about a video on social media showing the cruel treatment of a dog.

Nicholas Wayne says his dog Bullet had been missing for a little while. When he heard about a video on social media he was surprised that it was his dog.

“I had looked on Facebook because our dog had been missing for a little bit. Saw that these two girls had posted they had our dog. I was talking to my wife and I showed her the picture and she was like yeah, that’s Bullet.”

After unsuccessfully trying to get the dog back on his own, the sheriff’s office began actively working on the case.

By the afternoon, investigators said they had identified all the people they say were involved in the incident and the weapon that was used was recovered.

18-year-old Trenton Sudberry of Gadsden and an unnamed juvenile were arrested and charged with animal cruelty. Sudberry was taken to the Etowah County Detention Center to await bond.

Officials say Bullet is back home with his family and is safe.

“He’s traumatized, we were told to keep him away from fireworks, put some headphones on him if we have to. Just make sure he’s not around anything that’s not going to set him off, but other than that he has been very good.”

While Bullet appeared to be in good spirits and should make a good recovery, Wayne says he has continued to seek justice for Bullet.

“I don’t know why you did any of this, and to lie to us and make so many stories. All you had to do was return the dog back to us and we would’ve worked something out but y’all took it to a point where court is now involved and I’m going to push it to the full extent.”

Wayne says he’s going to leave the video of his dog being abused on social media because he wants to show how cruel people can be to animals.

“It’s unfortunate that animals are mistreated! Animals cannot speak up, so we have to make sure we do our best to take care of them and be their voice. Animal cases are just as important as any case we work,” said Sheriff Horton.

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