Cassandra Marshall, 26, and Ronald Guthrie, 65, are charged with cruelty to animals.
According to court documents, Marshall thought the two year old dog, named Popeye, contracted parvovirus and asked for Guthrie's help to put the animal down. Guthrie later denied any involvement.
Marshall told deputies she held the dog while Guthrie stabbed it in the chest, causing the dog to "whine and cry in pain." She said Guthrie then tried to slit the dog's throat which only caused more agony to the animal. Marshall said Guthrie then told her to strangle the dog with its own collar while he held it.
Deputies found the dog's remains on Marshall's property in Rowlesburg and a necropsy found wounds consistent with Marshall's description of events.
A veterinarian found the dog died from "a combination of strangulation and bleeding into the chest, causing respiratory failure and heart failure."
Guthrie and Marshall are in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail with bond set at $10,000 each.
(WVALways - Oct 5, 2015)