The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man from Cumming this weekend who they say shot and killed his neighbor’s dog while the owner was away.

Carlos Garcia-Lopez, 50, of Cumming was taken into custody on Saturday, March 16, after a local man and his fiancé reported to authorities that they returned home to their residence the night before and found their 4-year-old miniature pincher lying in a pool of blood inside the residence, according to sheriff’s office reports.

According to Cpl. Doug Rainwater, sheriff’s office spokesman, the homeowners immediately took the dog to a veterinary office and were told that a projectile had been found lodged inside the dog’s body.

Upon investigation at the home, deputies were shown a trail of blood that led from where the dog was allegedly shot in the residence’s backyard into the home through a doggy door and to where the animal eventually died.

Although the homeowner stated that he had no problems with his neighbors and didn’t know anyone that would want to hurt the dog, deputies determined that it was most likely shot from the back deck of a neighboring residence.

According to the report, at the neighboring residence, deputies made contact with Garcia-Lopez, who stated that he owned several firearms and eventually confessed to shooting the dog with a pellet gun.

“When he was asked why he shot the dog, Mr. Garcia-Lopez stated the dog was barking all day and he was trying to shoot the fence in an attempt to scare it and to stop the barking,” the report states.

Garcia-Lopez also stated that he had been having problems with dogs coming into his yard and was told by animal control that there was nothing they could do about it.

“It is believed that Mr. Garcia-Lopez maliciously and intentionally killed the dog,” the report states.

Garcia-Lopez was arrested at his home and charged with felony animal cruelty.

He was briefly booked into the Forsyth County Jail on Saturday but eventually made a bond of $5,610.

Attempts to reach Garcia-Lopez for comment on his arrest were not unsuccessful as of press time.