Two men charged with torturing and killing child's dog

A troubling story out of Bristol tonight and be advised this story may be hard to read.

Two men tortured and killed a little boy's emotional support dog. And charges have been filed for this incident.

Warrants have also been issued for two suspects and sent to the Elkhart County Sherriff's Office.

According to court documents, on or about January 28th, Bristol Police officers made contact with Jason Ragsdale.

Ragsdale told police his son had come back from his mother's apartment extremely upset about the death of his six-month old German Shepherd emotional support dog.

Officers spoke with the ten-year old boy and told police that he was staying with his mother, Shannon Kling.

34-year-old Uriah Kling, and 26-year-old Tyler Tallman, along with other children were at the apartment.

The boy said his dog nipped at another child, did not break any skin, but left a mark.

Uriah Kling then reportedly tried to choke the dog out but was told by the Shannon Kling not to that inside the house.

The boy then told police,

"Kling and Tallman then took the dog outside...The boy asked his mother if he could go with them, and his mother allowed it."

Kling and Tallman then took the dog to a nearby golf course, where they hung the animal on a tree.

The boy heard the dog yelping, so he then ran back home.

Kling and Tallman returned to the apartment with blood on their coats.

In the affidavit the boy, "stated that Kling told him Tallman used a knife to kill the dog."

The mother, Kling, and Tallman then reportedly go into the bathroom and talk about killing the dog.

Tallman then later bought the boy a video game allegedly as an apology.

Bristol Police discovered the dog.

An exam was performed by the Elkhart County Humane Society.

The medical director noted, "multiple lacerations to the chest, neck and head. The laceration to the neck was from ear to ear.."

Stab wounds were also found on both sides of the dog’s body.

Kling is being charged with two counts of torturing or mutilating an animal, and Tallman one count of torturing or mutilating.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Bristol Police and the Elkhart County Humane Society could not speak about this.