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RUSTBURG — A Louisiana man will serve two months in jail for his role in leaving his dog to die on the side of the road last September near Lynchburg city limits in Campbell County.

Chance Dalton Davis, 22, was charged with animal cruelty and flew up from Louisiana to appear for a hearing in Campbell County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to a downgraded misdemeanor animal cruelty charge, rather than his original class 6 felony charge.

A passerby found Davis’ dog, a Labrador and pit bull mix less than a year old, seizing in a crate on the side of Holcomb Path Road at about 1 p.m. Sept. 5 and called Campbell County Animal Control. By the time an officer arrived, the dog had died with a gunshot wound to its head.

Reading a summary of necropsy results from a veterinarian, Campbell County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Todd said the bullet deflected off of the dog’s skull, fracturing the skull and jawbone. He said a veterinarian determined the dog suffered for 30 to 40 minutes before dying due to swelling on the animal’s brain.