'Horrible and inhumane': Alabama man accused of cooking pet Chihuahua to death over barking

An Alabama man was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly killing his pet Chihuahua by cooking it in an oven during a family dispute.

James Williamson, a 44 year old man from Atmore, a town near the Florida border, was accused of putting the small dog into a hot oven and blocking the door with a chair to stop it from escaping. The disturbing act reportedly came after an argument with a relative, during which the Williamson threatened to harm the dog if it didn’t stop barking.

Alarmed by the dog’s screams, neighbours called the police. However, upon arriving, they found the puppy's charred remains laid out on the driveway, the New York Post reported.

Sergeant Darrell McMann, who responded to the scene, said he was left deeply shaken by what he saw.

“I have a Chihuahua myself,” he said. “When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, I really was. I just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together.”

Williamson is currently being held on a $15,000 bond. If released, he will not be allowed to keep animals. He faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty, a Class C felony under Alabama law.

However, concerns have been raised about the severity of the charge. Under current legislation, a Class C felony may not carry a lengthy prison sentence, depending on the offender’s history and court decisions.

“I think in cases like this, they should be strengthened,” said Sergeant McMann. “Because I don’t think being a class C felony fits what he did. That pretty much describes what he did: horrible and inhumane.”

Animal welfare advocates are now calling for tougher penalties in the wake of the case.