CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — A dog is dead after deputies in Citrus County say a man shot the animal with a crossbow.
According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, 25-year-old Luke Adams is now facing felony animal cruelty charges.
Deputies responded to a home Friday on West Oak Street in Crystal River after receiving reports of a "violent individual."
Their investigation revealed that a dog was shot in the back of the neck in the woods behind the home. Deputies say Adams "ripped out the arrow but left the tip embedded in the wound."
Adams is then accused of putting the dog in the front seat of his truck before going back into his house. Someone else noticed the dog inside of the truck and called law enforcement.
Citrus County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Officers were among the first responders, rushing the dog to receive immediate veterinary care.
However, despite "valiant efforts of emergency veterinarians," the dog "could not be saved."
"The team worked tirelessly for hours to provide care and comfort, but the extent of the harm was too great," the sheriff's office wrote in a social media post. "This heartbreaking loss underscores the urgent need to report and prevent animal abuse to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
