FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS • A woman shot her boyfriend's dog in the face with a .22-caliber rifle early Sunday morning during a dispute with the man, police say.

The dog is expected to recover from its injuries.

Angela K. Willig, 32, was charged Monday with one count of aggravated cruelty to animals. She was in custody Monday at the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Fairview Heights police said they were called to Willig's home in the 9600 block of Holdener Place about 1 a.m. Sunday. Officers found a multi-colored pit bull that had been shot in the face and paw.

The male dog was shot three times during a dispute between Willig and her boyfriend while the dog was locked in a kennel in the home, police said. The dog did not pose a threat to anyone at the time of the shooting, police said.

The dog was taken for emergency surgery and is expected to survive.