MUNCIE, Ind. (WXIN) An Indiana man faces a felony charge after police say he threw his girlfriend’s dog onto the ground in frustration, killing the 4-month-old puppy.

Caleb B. Haymaker, 20, was arrested this week on one count of cruelty to an animal a Level 6 felony. The charge stems from the death of his girlfriend’s 4-month-old puppy named Shaq.

Police in Muncie were called around 5 p.m. Tuesday to a local home for a reported domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a woman who said that her boyfriend had killed her puppy and then left the house.

The boyfriend identified as Haymaker had reportedly texted the woman around 1:45 p.m. stating that he had thrown her puppy, named Shaq. He then allegedly texted her again around 2 p.m. saying that the dog was dead.

The woman told police that she arrived home around 3 p.m. and found Haymaker asleep in bed. She said she then found Shaq lying dead on the kitchen floor. The dog was reportedly covered with a blanket and surrounded by bodily fluid.

A police report states that the woman and Haymaker started arguing back and forth about the dog. She eventually asked Haymaker to leave the house and he left before police arrived.

Officers then contacted Muncie Animal Control and officials advised that Haymaker’s alleged actions constituted felonious animal cruelty. Animal control officers then picked up Shaq and took the dog to Maplewood Animal Hospital for testing.

Police then reviewed text messages sent by Haymaker to his girlfriend. Around 1 p.m., Haymaker sent a message stating that the dog was “biting constantly” and clawing at his hand.

“I’m gonna really hurt him someday and your [sic] gonna look at me like im [sic] a monster,” one message read.

A short time later, Haymaker continued to complain about the dog.

“He bit me. Like bit bit me. And it caught me off guard. I held him. He clawed my hand,” he texted. “I got pissed and threw him down. He’s. Dead.”

After investigating and determining charges, police were able to track Haymaker down at a local Dollar General store and take him into custody. During a brief interview with police, Haymaker reportedly said he was scratched by the dog and then threw him down.

Haymaker was then arrested and booked into the Delaware County Jail on one count of animal cruelty. On Wednesday morning, his bail was set at $5,000. An initial court hearing has not yet been scheduled in his case.