Man held on animal cruelty case

Parker County Sheriff’s Department

Parker County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Weatherford man Sunday, April 4, in connection with an animal cruelty investigation.  

Sheriff Russ Authier said deputies were dispatched to the 7200-block of Comanche Trail around 11:30 a.m., where a neighbor reported witnessing the suspect, identified as Sean Thomas Sloan, 28, assaulting his 3-year-old husky dog named Shy. 

The witness captured the incident on a cell phone video recording and showed it to deputies when they arrived on scene. 

The video depicts Sloan aggressively grabbing the dog as it was tethered in the front yard of the home. Sloan then struck the dog in the face and neck with a closed fist, contorting its neck, forcing its snout to touch its back, and struck it several additional times. The dog attempted to escape, but Sloan grabbed the dog's muzzle and forced it to the ground while striking it on its rear right hip, face and neck several more times. The dog was able to get away from Sloan and ran under the residence.   

Sheriff's deputies contacted Sloan, who said he had a “dispute” with his dog after it ate half of a chicken, and that he held it while he”only slapped” it three or four times. Deputies observed the chicken which did have a minor puncture wound on its back, but was otherwise uninjured and walking around with other chickens at the residence.  

Another witness told deputies he observed Sloan, "about to break his neck, " and "near killed him." 

Sloan was arrested on the charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals; torture. He was booked into the Parker County Jail where he remains on a $15,000 bond.  

Sheriff Authier said animal control officers took custody of Shy from the scene to receive medical treatment from a local veterinarian. 

“Animal cruelty cases are a top priority for my office,” Authier said. “I believe we are charged with protecting those who cannot protect themselves. This includes children, the elderly, and animals.”