EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
The death of a poisoned pet is being investigated by the Evansville Police Department.
The dog's owner, Richard Barton of Evansville, says he and his family are heartbroken. They called Ace their '100 pound lap dog', and they want someone to be held responsible.
"My daughter, she's just devastated, absolutely devastated." Barton said.
The loss of a pet is never easy and as for Barton, he's still trying to heal.
Barton says his dog, Ace, was poisoned on New Year's Eve in his own backyard.
"I have no clue why someone would do this to a defenseless animal. It's just sick," Barton told 14 News.
The whole ordeal has been an emotional roller coaster for the Barton family. The 7-year-old St. Bernard mix was quickly taken to a vet but died days later.
"I've never seen a dog that scared in my life. I've never seen a person that frightened in my life," Barton said.
Barton says he knows who's to blame; a childhood friend of his, who he says left voicemails threatening to poison the dog more than once.
"If he can do this to my dog, he can do this to anybody's dog," Barton said.
The EPD has an investigator working the case. Sergeant Jason Cullum says it's one that won't get lost in the shuffle.
"When we do see these cases we do take them serious and we do look into them because we know that the people around here really love their animals and they don't want to see an animal that's been mistreated," Cullum said.
Barton says the ordeal is an ongoing dispute between he and a friend of his. One that began about six months ago. EPD confirms that as well. They say no charges have been filed as of now.
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