Orlando man charged with animal cruelty for shooting brother’s dog

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orlando man has been charged with felony animal cruelty after deputies say he shot his own brother’s dog.

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Deputies responded to a 911 call from a home in Holden Heights just before 1 p.m. Monday reporting a case of animal abuse.

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Responding deputies spoke to the victim who said his brother, 56-year-old John Hawkins, had been “messing around” with the dog before he shot it, claiming the dog had bitten him.

A witness told deputies Hawkins came by the house drunk and was yelling at the dog and later threatened to kill it.

The witness said Hawkins stood in front of the dog’s cage and shot it at “point-blank” range.

Deputies say Hawkins made multiple comments claiming responsibility for shooting the dog and stated numerous times at the jail that he “shot that dog.”

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Hawkins was charged with one count of felony cruelty to animals, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and possession of a weapon in commission of a felony.

He was booked into the Orange County jail Monday and released on bond.

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