DeLand man accused of shooting, killing fiancée’s dogs after argument, asking teen to help

DELAND, Fla. — A DeLand man is facing animal and child abuse charges after deputies say he shot and killed two of his fiancée’s dogs and tried to make a teen fire one of the fatal shots.

Deputies said they arrested William Petty, 49, of DeLand, in Port Orange on Sunday, the day after the two dogs were shot and killed.

READ: Palm Bay City Hall on lockdown due to a suspicious person nearby

A 16-year-old boy told deputies that he was at Petty’s home on Saturday. He said that after Petty got into an argument with his fiancée, Petty loaded up two of her dogs, a female Catahoula mix and a male Dachshund, and drove them along with the teen to a wooded area off of 12th Avenue in DeLand.

The teen told deputies that Petty shot the female dog in the head, and then tried to make the teen shoot the Dachshund. The teen said he shot into the ground instead, and that Petty took back the gun and fatally shot the Dachshund.

READ: Man dies after being thrown from vehicle, run over by cars on I-4

Deputies said Petty then tossed both of the dogs’ bodies into the woods.

The dogs’ owner told deputies that neither dog had any illnesses or ailments that would have called for them to be euthanized.

READ: Woman, 3-month-old baby found shot dead in Florida home; suspect arrested

Petty is charged with two counts of felony cruelty to animals, two counts of unlawful disposal of a dead domestic animal, child abuse and carrying a concealed weapon in the commission of a felony.