A Westmoreland County man was sentenced to state prison for abusing a dog so badly that it was paralyzed.
On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Zachary Hixson of Mount Pleasant to up to 60 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in June to two counts of severe animal abuse, neglect, and cruelty.
Hixson must also have a mental health evaluation and cannot own an animal for 14 years.
At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors played video of Hixson’s maltreatment and presented a victim impact statement from the dog’s owner.
Hixson punched, kicked, and choked Snickers, a 10-year-old shih tzu, while staying in his girlfriend’s South Huntingdon Township house in 2024, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office. Snickers was unable to walk after sustaining a shattered spine.
Leave a Reply