A small Alabama community in the USA has been left horrified after authorities reported that a man allegedly cooked his own pet chihuahua alive inside an oven.

James Williamson, 44, of Atmore, near the Florida border, has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty following what police describe as one of the most disturbing acts of abuse they’ve ever encountered.

According to investigators, the incident occurred last Monday after Williamson got into a heated argument with a family member. During the dispute, he reportedly threatened to harm the dog if it didn't stop barking.

Authorities say Williamson followed through on the threat by placing the small dog into a heated oven, then wedging a chair against the door to prevent the animal from escaping.

Neighbors later reported hearing distressing yelps and cries from inside the home. By the time police arrived, the sounds had stopped. Officers discovered the dog’s burned remains on the driveway.

Sergeant Darrell McMann of the Atmore Police Department, who also owns a chihuahua, described the scene as "horrible and inhumane," saying it severely tested his emotional composure.

“When I got there, I was just at a loss for words,” McMann told WALA News. “This was someone’s pet — a small, trusting, defenseless life — and it was tortured.”

Williamson was promptly arrested and booked on a Class C felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty, with bond set at $15,000. Under Alabama law, this is the standard charge for such offenses. If convicted, Williamson will be prohibited from owning animals in the future.

However, McMann believes the current law does not go far enough.

“I think in cases like this, the law should be strengthened,” he said. “A Class C felony doesn’t begin to reflect the severity of what happened here.”

The charred body of the dog was found on Dogwood Drive, sending shockwaves through the neighborhood and across social media, where the public expressed collective outrage.

“If he didn’t like barking, he shouldn’t have gotten a dog,” one commenter wrote.

Another added, “We rank 49th out of 50 states for the weakest animal cruelty laws. It’s time Alabama takes these cases seriously. This is heartbreaking.”

Currently, Alabama’s penalties for aggravated animal cruelty allow for leniency depending on prior convictions and judicial discretion, which means Williamson could avoid significant prison time.

Advocates are calling for legislative reform in light of the disturbing case, arguing that stronger consequences are necessary to prevent future acts of animal abuse.

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