28-05-2025
'Inhumane' man shoved pet Chihuahua in oven and blocked the door until it burned alive
A man from Atmore, Alabama, has been accused of cooking his pet Chihuahua alive because it would not stop barking.
James Williamson, 44, is facing a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty after he allegedly locked the dog inside a heated oven.
The incident occurred last Monday when Williamson got into an argument with a family member and threatened to carrying out the act.
Sickening: James Williamson, 44, is facing a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly cooking his pet Chihuahua alive
Williamson is alleged to have taken dog, stuffed it inside a hot oven and turned the appliance on before wedging a chair against the door to prevent the puppy from escaping.
Neighbors reported hearing yelping and cries coming from inside Williamson's home, but by the time police arrived the sound had stopped.
According to Sergeant Darrell McMann of the Atmore Police Department, an officer who owns a Chihuahua himself found the puppy's charred, lifeless body outside on the driveway, suffering from severe burns across its body.
McMann described the case as 'horrible and inhumane' and said it tested his composure in a way few cases have.
He told WALA: 'When I got there, I was just at a loss for words, you know. I really just stood there and looked at the dog for a little bit and had to get myself together.
'This was someone's pet. This was a life - a small, trusting, defenseless life - and it was tortured.'
Williamson was swiftly arrested and charged with a class C felony, the standard charge for aggravated animal cruelty in Alabama.
He was booked into custody with a $15,000 bond. If convicted, he will be prohibited from owning animals in the future.
But Sergeant McMann believes the punishment should be far more severe.
He said: 'I think in cases like this, they [the law] should be strengthened. Because I don't think being a class C felony fits what he did.'
Currently, Alabama law treats aggravated animal cruelty as a lower-tier felony.
That means, depending on prior history and the court's judgment, Williamson could avoid significant prison time altogether.
Those on social media were outraged by what they had heard.
'Well if he didn't like barking, don't get a dog!' one person said.
Another wrote: 'At what point are we going to change our laws here in Alabama so people like this are actually punished? Animal abuse happens far too often, and it's unacceptable.
'We rank 49th out of 50 states for the worst animal cruelty laws. We need to do better, Alabama. It's heartbreaking that we continue to do nothing to improve, while people go on committing these horrible acts.'
