Report: Woman Stuffed Puppy in Backpack, Then Killed It By Beating It Against Tree

A Douglasville woman has been charged with felony cruelty to animals for stealing a puppy, stuffing it in a backpack and beating the backpack against a tree, killing the animal.

Douglas County deputies arrested Ryeeah Christine Hatcher, 27, who is accused of committing the crime Monday evening. Deputy Stan Copeland told the AJC, “We do have questions about her mental state at the time of the incident.”

The Douglas County Sentinel reported the incident occurred on Amber Drive near Highway 5.

She allegedly took the puppy from a neighbor’s yard. Copeland said neighbors cornered Hatcher with the puppy and backpack, and that’s when she beat it against the tree and the ground.

Hatcher also is charged with theft by taking and obstruction of an officer, according to jail records. She is being held on bonds totaling $12,000.