An Arundel man is being held on $1,000 bail, charged with stabbing to death his mother’s 4-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever.

York County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to 714 Alfred Road on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and learned that Jacob Belanger, 23, had killed his mother’s dog Annabel, according to York County Sheriff Bill King. Belanger lives at the home with his mother and grandmother but wasn’t there when deputies first arrived.

Jacob Belanger Courtesy York County Sheriff’s Office

Belanger was reported to be upset about the numerous dogs at the house, especially the large ones, his mother told deputies. Before he left for work that day, Belanger threatened to kill the dogs if they were still there when he got home.

While deputies were conducting their investigation, Belanger returned home and was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony. He was scheduled to be arraigned by video Wednesday.

According to state law, a person is guilty of aggravated animal cruelty if they cause extreme physical pain or death to an animal while demonstrating a “depraved indifference to animal life or suffering.”

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