A Kentucky man has been accused of threatening to kill his wife before allegedly setting her two dogs on fire during a domestic dispute at their Louisville home.
Authorities identified the suspect as 37-year-old Bobby Atkinson. He now faces several criminal charges, including animal torture, animal cruelty, menacing, and terroristic threatening.
Police say the incident happened after Atkinson’s wife confronted him about another woman being inside their house.
Wife Says Husband Threatened to Shoot Her
According to reports, the argument began early in the morning when Atkinson’s wife discovered another woman at the residence.
The woman told police that Atkinson armed himself with a handgun while she was preparing her children for school.
Court documents reportedly state that Atkinson threatened to shoot her, allegedly saying he would have killed her if they did not share a daughter together.
Fearing for her safety, the woman left the home with her children and sought an emergency protective order.
Dogs Allegedly Found Burned and Covered in Ash
Later that day, the woman reportedly returned to the house to collect medication. She then came back again after learning Atkinson was allegedly expecting a child with another woman.
When she arrived home, she reportedly heard a smoke alarm and smelled burning inside the house.
According to police reports, one of the dogs emerged from under a bed covered in ash with visible burns and open wounds.
Authorities said both dogs appeared to have some kind of accelerant on their fur.
The dogs, identified as Brooklyn and Seven, were taken to Louisville Metro Animal Services for medical treatment.
Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
Police arrested Atkinson on May 21.
He has been charged with two counts of torture of a dog or cat, two counts of second-degree cruelty to animals, one count of menacing, and one count of third-degree terroristic threatening.
Atkinson pleaded not guilty during his court appearance.
His bond was initially set at $20,000 before a judge later increased it to $50,000.
Animal Welfare Advocate Speaks Out
The suspect’s wife reportedly said she fears for her family’s safety following the incident.
Shelia Joneleit, executive director of The Arrow Fund, said the case highlights the strong connection often seen between domestic violence and animal abuse.
She described the allegations as an act of terror and cruelty against helpless animals.
