According to a criminal complaint cited by WISN, WPR and FOX 11, the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 17, when a woman found a golden retriever, possibly dehydrated, and sought out help from the local police department and humane society.

She was directed to Van Buren, per the complaint; he is the town’s animal control officer, CBS 58 reported.

When the woman brought the dog to Van Buren, he got agitated at its barking, the complaint stated, according to WISN.

He then put a leash around it like a “noose,” authorities alleged in the complaint, and pulled the dog through the window.

The dog then bit Van Buren and he allegedly lifted it off the ground by the “noose” and said, “this is what we do on this farm when dogs bite,” the complaint stated.

The dog began foaming at its mouth and when the woman intervened, she was allegedly told by Van Buren that the dog would die because it bit him, according to the complaint, CBS 58 reported.

Van Buren allegedly admitted to the authorities that he held the leash for too long, the complaint reportedly stated.

Before Van Buren was arrested, the Humane Society of Dodge County said in a social media post they were working with law enforcement officials.

Our hearts are heavy – for this dog, for the kind person that found them, and for everyone in our community who feels the pain of animals we can’t always reach in time. Thank you for standing with us,” they said in the statement.

Van Buren was charged with mistreating animals, the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said in their statement.
He appeared in court on Friday, the outlets reported, but it wasn’t immediately clear if he entered a plea. Attorney information for him was not immediately available.