Dog gets stabbed by psycho Phillip John Shoemaker, 22, then suffers for days when owners don't take him to the vet

NORTH CAROLINA -- A 22-year-old Salisbury man, believed to be homeless, is charged with stabbing a puppy multiple times Thursday night, deputies say.

Phillip John Shoemaker is charged with cruelty to animals.

Shoemaker was house sitting for a couple on Highland Park Drive and was taking care of their pets, according to neighbors.

Deputies say Shoemaker stabbed one-year-old "Buddy" repeatedly with an eight-inch hunting knife.

Around 11:50 p.m., a woman living nearby, on Highland Park Drive, called deputies and said she saw Shoemaker stab the puppy.

“I see this man, Phillip, stabbing the dog in the side and twisting the knife into him," neighbor Faith Cox said.

Cox said she heard the dog yelping and screamed at Shoemaker to stop. That's when she says Shoemaker raised his hand and stabbed the dog again, this time in the neck.

Shoemaker was one the ground, holding the puppy down between his knees, according to the report.

“My dad yells at him and I guess he got frightened, the dog got loose, he was chasing the dog trying to stab the dog still and the dog got away and came up into my house," Cox added.

When deputies arrived, Shoemaker was inside a home wearing blood-covered jeans, the report notes. Shoemaker reportedly told officials that he stabbed the dog because the dog bit him.

He also told deputies the dog's owner gave him permission to kill the dog.

Buddy was taken somewhere to be treated for multiple stab wounds to the neck and stomach. The puppy did survive the attack but the condition is not known.

Neighbor Victor Johnson said that he had seen Shoemaker abusing other animals.

“For about three days I stopped him repeatedly from kicking the dogs, beating them, he had one pinned on the floor with his knee in its back the other day hitting it in the face, just punching," Johnson said. “There’s no room  in this world for somebody beating on a little dog.”

Shoemaker was taken to the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $5,000 bond.

There was a new development late on Friday afternoon when Rowan County Animal Control officers came to the house and picked up Buddy.  

They also charged Buddy's owner for not taking the dog to a veterinarian for treatment following the stabbing.

Buddy is not being cared for by Animal Control.

(WDAM - Dec 11, 2015)