DETROIT — A Michigan man is accused of burying his dog alive in the backyard of his home, leading to the animal later being euthanized, prosecutors said.
Jacob Xavier Kasper, 20, of Detroit, was arrested last week and arraigned on one felony count of killing or torturing an animal in the second degree and one misdemeanor count of animal abandoning/cruelty, according to The Detroit News.
“Dogs are living and breathing beings. Dogs should be attended to even if they are sick and especially if they have been abused,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy said in a statement. “No living being should ever be buried alive in lieu of proper medical or other standard care. This is not rocket science.”
Detroit Animal Control officials were called at 6:07 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2022, after receiving a report that a dog had been buried alive, WDIV-TV reported. The officials spoke to Kasper, and the animal was ultimately turned over to animal control, according to the television station.
The dog had to be euthanized because of its injuries, WXYZ-TV reported.
Kasper was charged in November but was not arrested until Friday, according to the television station. Bond was set at $5,000 after his arrangement.
Kasper will attend a probable cause conference on Thursday and a preliminary examination is scheduled for April 20, according to the News.
If convicted of the felony charge, Kasper could face up to seven years in prison, according to the newspaper.