Virginia Beach man, Vernon Boyd Eaton, Jr., charged with animal cruelty after wounded dog is found dead in truck bed

VIRGINIA -- A man is behind bars charged with animal cruelty after police say they found deceased dog in a truck bed in Virginia Beach on August 1st.

Vernon Boyd Eaton, Jr. has been charged with felony animal cruelty.

A citizen called about a dog in distress in the bed of a truck that was in the 5000 block of Princess Anne Road.

The caller told dispatchers  the truck stopped at the Kempsville Plaza Shopping Center.

Police and Animal Control officers went out to the scene and found a dog in the bed of the truck with what officials are calling “suspicious” wounds.

The dog had already died before officers arrived.

A necropsy is being conducted on the dog to figure out how the animal died.

Eaton was granted a $3,000 bond.

He is required to go to Edgehill Recovery Retreat Center for treatment. He is not allowed to have any contact with animals.

His next scheduled court appearance is August 17th.

(WTKR - Aug 3, 2015)