Associated Press

ATHENS — An Alabama man has posted a video denying he fed methamphetamine to a so-called "attack squirrel" that he calls a pet.

Police are searching for Mickey Paulk on drug and other charges after claiming they found a caged squirrel during a search. Authorities tell news outlets the squirrel was given meth so it would be aggressive.

But WHNT-TV reports Paulk posted a video Tuesday denying he gave the drug to the animal. In the video, he says meth would be fatal to a squirrel.

"They said there was a trained attack squirrel in the residence on meth," he said in the video. "They can't give squirrels meth. It would kill them I'm pretty sure. I've never tried it."

Police say they freed the animal after searching a home and arresting a man. Paulk is shown in the video petting a squirrel he indicates is the same animal.

Paulk says the squirrel is mean and has bitten people but it's not on drugs.