A California man is behind bars after allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend's dog — then cooking the poor Pomeranian and feeding it to her without her knowledge. Ryan Eddy Watenpaugh, 34, of Palo Cedro, was arrested Thursday on animal cruelty and other charges after he served up the sick revenge dish over the weekend, police said, and later taunted his ex in a text message.

The woman told police her Pomeranian, Bear, went missing after she and Watenpaugh had an argument that ended with him allegedly assaulting her. Last week Watenpaugh and the victim briefly reconciled and he cooked her a meal that was purported to be pork on Saturday. The next day, “the victim received a text message from Watenpaugh asking how her dog tasted, and referenced the meal he had cooked for her," police said. A pair of severed dog’s paws was later left on her doorstep. Police are testing the remains.

"It’s sad, that if indeed the dog was killed as part of this incident, because dog as you know they are innocent all they want is affection and love," Redding Police Sgt. Todd Cogle told NBC News on Friday. "For someone to take advantage of that innocence is obviously sad and depressing." Watenpaugh is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail. He admitted to delivering the severed paws, but denied killing or cooking Bear, police said.

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— Hasani Gittens