Gary A. Collins
/ photo: NYSP
REDWOOD, JEFFERSON CO. -- A North Country man is under arrest after police say he beat a family dog to death with a hammer.
According to State Police, on Tuesday morning Troopers went to the home of 33-year-old Gary A. Collins and arrested him on charges of felony aggravated cruelty to an animal and violating parole. Police accuse Collins, of Stine Road in Redwood, of brutally beating a dog to death with a claw hammer on March 21. Police say the husky-shepherd mix belonged to his sister-in-law, who lives at the same address.
The dog was examined by a veterinarian, who found that the animal suffered skull fractures and a ruptured trachea.
Troopers say the parole violation charge stems from a past incident where Collins allegedly lived in the woods near Alexandria Bay and Redwood for several months, knowing that police were looking for him. They say he had failed to check in with parole officers or notify them of his location.
Collins was arraigned in Alexandria Town Court and taken to the Jefferson County Public Safety Building on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond on the animal cruelty charge and no bail on the parole violation.
If Collins is convicted of the charges against him, what should the punishment be? Leave a comment below or go to our Facebook page to join the conversation.
