A grim case of animal cruelty emerged from Crystal River, Citrus County, when a 25-year-old man was arrested following the fatal shooting of his dog with a crossbow. According to WTSP, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office has charged Luke Adams with felony animal cruelty after deputies say he shot his dog in the back of the neck, attempted to remove the arrow, and left the tip embedded within the wound.

The distressing incident came to light after deputies were called to Adam's residence for reports of a "violent individual" and found the dog wounded in the front seat of his truck. A passerby had noticed the injured animal and alerted authorities. WFLA reports that Adams proceeded to remove the arrow from the neck of the dog but did not ensure complete removal or immediate care for the animal.

Upon arrival, Citrus County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Officers rushed the dog to a veterinary hospital in hopes of saving its life. Despite what the Sheriff's Office described on social media as "valiant efforts of emergency veterinarians," these efforts were in vain as the dog succumbed to its injuries. In a statement released on social media, the sheriff's office expressed heartbreak over the dog's death, emphasizing the importance of reporting animal abuse, according to WTSP.

FOX 13 News covered the story and confirmed that, despite hours of life-saving attempts by the hospital's staff, the extent of the harm to the dog proved to be too much.