FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ill. (WJPF) – A Franklin County man is facing animal cruelty charges.

Just before 9:30pm May 31, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received numerous calls reporting an incident involving a dog at ZR Roadhouse in Zeigler.

Witnesses at the business told police that Paul Rutkowski had been bragging about shooting his dog. Rutkowski had already left the business but witnesses saw the dog lying in the parking lot after it had been dragged by a vehicle he was driving.

Police found Rutkowski at a home in Zeigler where he told them he had driven the dog to a rural road near Zeigler and shot it with a .22-caliber rifle because the dog wouldn’t listen. 

52 year old Paul Rutkowski has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty and possession of a weapon by a felon.

He was taken to the Franklin County Jail and additional charges are pending.

Franklin County Animal Control Officers responded to ZR Roadhouse and took possession of the deceased dog.