A Butler County man is in custody and has been charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly beat his dog to death with a hammer, said Sheriff Kenny Harden.

Benjamin Soloman has been charged with cruelty to dogs and cats in the first degree, which is a felony offense in the state of Alabama.

Harden said deputies arrived on the scene late Monday night to find blood all over the ground.

“We followed the trail of blood and found the dog on the side of the road,” Harden said.

Harden said Soloman’s pants were covered in blood and the man was under the influence of alcohol.

“The man said he had pulled back on the dog’s chain, but he didn’t respond,” Harden said. “The dog sort of puffed out his muscles and stood his ground.”

This, Harden believes, is what led Soloman to attack the animal.

District Attorney John Andrews said that this sort of crime would not be tolerated.

“If anyone mistreats an animal, we are going to prosecute them to the fullest extent,” Andrews said. “These are poor defenseless animals, and we aren’t going to put up with it.”

Soloman is currently being held in the Butler County Correctional Facility. The Advocate will update this story as more information becomes available.