Hopkinsville man facing charges after reportedly killing a dog

A Hopkinsville man is in custody after he allegedly killed a dog Saturday on Springmont Drive.

According to the Hopkinsville Police Department, officers were called to a residence in the 100 of Springmont for a ‘disturbing’ report that 47-year-old Martin Hartwig of Hopkinsville had slammed a small dog to the ground, killing it. 

A witness informed officers that Hartwig had been angry that no one was helping clean the house, which is when he approached the couch where the dog was sitting, forcibly grabbed it and then allegedly slammed it to the ground brutally, resulting in the dog’s death. 

Hartwig left on a motorcycle before officers arrived, and he was stopped a short time later by officers, who reported that Hartwig appeared to be intoxicated. He allegedly admitted to ‘losing his temper’ over the dog urinating on a new couch, and had slammed the dog down. 

Hartwig was arrested and charged with torture of a dog or cat, second-degree cruelty to animals, DUI-third offense and no registration places.