Police: Homestead Man Shoots Puppy In The Head

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A 51-year-old South Florida man has been arrested for animal cruelty.

Miami-Dade Police said Scott Hargraves, of Homestead, took his 10-month-old Labrador Retriever puppy to his backyard and shot the dog in the head Sunday night.

Hargraves appeared in court on Monday morning.

The judge gave him a $5,000 bond and house arrest.

"I am concerned about safety, if he is willing to go and shoot and innocent puppy. Let him post a bond. Maybe with house arrest he can work," said the Judge Mindy Glazer.

According to the arrest report when officers came to his home, Hargraves was in the process of trying to leave.

He allegedly had the dead dog in the bed of his pick up truck.

He told officers he shot the dog because he had a long week and was tired of all the animals in his home.

"You know if you don't like an animal you can turn it in to the animal shelter," Glazer told him in court.

Hargraves told the judge he didn't have any money to pay for an attorney and his house is in foreclosure.

One neighbor who did not want to be identified, believes if Hargraves is guilty of animal cruelty, he may have done it because of stress from finicancil problems.