In a troubling case emerging from New Jersey, a man has been charged after allegedly shooting a dog he was entrusted to care for. The incident has left the community in shock and has prompted legal action against the accused.

The Berkeley Township Police Department responded to a distressing call on October 3, when a woman reported the tragic death of her dog. The dog, a beloved one-year-old French Bulldog named Ruby, had been left in the care of a family member, Jeffrey Lentz, aged 56.

According to the police, Ruby’s owners received a heartbreaking phone call informing them that their pet had sustained injuries and ultimately did not survive. This unexpected tragedy prompted further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the dog’s death.

A veterinary examination, which included X-rays, revealed a shocking discovery: Ruby had been shot in the jaw. This revelation intensified the investigation, leading authorities to probe deeper into the incident.

In pursuit of the truth, the police initiated a comprehensive investigation. Ruby’s remains were sent to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health Diagnostics Lab in Trenton for a necropsy, an essential step in determining the exact cause and circumstances of her death.

The community now awaits further developments in this case, as the legal process unfolds and more details emerge from the ongoing investigation. The tragic loss of Ruby serves as a somber reminder of the responsibilities that come with caring for animals and the serious consequences when trust is violated.

Investigators determined Lentz “unlawfully discharged a firearm at the dog resulting in the dog’s death.”

He was charged with animal cruelty, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and possession of large capacity magazine. He was arrested Nov. 3 and “remanded to the Ocean County Jail pending court proceedings,” officials said. Lentz was released Nov. 10 after a superior court hearing, and is set to appear in court again in December.

If convicted of the firearm possession charge, Lentz faces a potential 10-year prison sentence.

The identity of the dog owners and their relationship to Lentz was not released.