Texas man arrested for stealing neighbors’ dogs and killing them

A man in Texas has been arrested and charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals by adopting pets and then allegedly killing them.

The Bowie County Sheriff’s Office was alerted on Oct. 3 about several dogs missing from local homes. One of the callers said a suspected dog thief lived in the area.

As deputies searched the Simms area, they went to the home where Stuart Duncan Hammonds and his girlfriend lived. They smelled what appeared to be decomposing animals, KSLA reported.

Stuart Duncan Hammonds, 24, has been charged with 12 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals. (Bowie County Correctional Center)

Deputies found seven animal carcasses around the house and barn. They found skeletal remains, 12 of which were identified as dogs. Some of those dog skeletons had head trauma, a sign that they may have been shot.

The sheriff’s office said they believe Hammonds killed four of the dogs while enraged in a fight with his girlfriend, and said a witness confirmed to them that he killed all 12 dogs.

Judge’s gavel, scales of justice and law books in court. (Brian A. Jackson/South Florida Sun Sentinel) (Stuart Duncan Hammonds, 24, was arrested and charged with 12 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals, and his bail has been set at $100,000.)

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Hammonds was arrested and charged with 12 counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals, and his bail has been set at $100,000.

In addition to allegedly stealing dogs from neighbors, Hammonds allegedly adopted some of the animals through social media.