What He Did After Allegedly Shooting a Neighbor's Dog Has the Internet Fired Up — and Might Earn Him Criminal Charges

A Maryland man who allegedly shot and killed a puppy earlier this month — and then reportedly posted a selfie of himself on the Internet with the dead animal — may face criminal charges, authorities said Monday.

Kenneth Woodburn allegedly shot and killed a neighbors dog on March 12 and then posted a photo with the dead animal on Facebook where it was then widely circulated on the Internet.

"He hasn't been charged yet," St. Mary's County Sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Cara Grumbles told TheBlaze. "The state's attorney is reviewing the case. We hope to hear something this week."

"It's an open case," she added, saying the department became aware of it after receiving the photo of the man with the dead dog.

An animals advocacy group posted a screen grab they say shows Kenny Woodburn's selfie with a dog he allegedly shot. (Image source: Southern Maryland Lost & Found Pets Facebook page)

In a screen grab of Woodburn's alleged Facebook post, he claims he had to "put [the puppy] down" because it "charged" at him. It appears the night before, however, he had posted a status update that said the dog would "be shot" if it wandered onto his property again.

Screen grabs of Woodburn's posts have been widely circulated on the Internet, igniting a firestorm.

One online petition has nearly 27,000 signatures demanding justice for "Tank" the dog.

"[A] neighbor named Kenny Woodburn shot Tank and then afterwards he posted a picture of it on facebook like a trophy," the petition reads. "Tank was shot in his side (the side that was facing the house that he was heading away from) and then shot in the head.... To me that just proves that the dog was shot as he was trying to exit the area."

Since going viral, Grumbles told TheBlaze that her office has been inundated with countless complaints.

"We've been getting phone calls, emails," she said, adding that feedback is pouring into her office from around the country.

TheBlaze was unable to reach Woodburn for comment.

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