McELHATTAN — James Standridge, of Jersey Shore, is facing a number of animal cruelty charges after an investigation by the Clinton County SPCA and Pine Creek Township Police Department.

According to Crimewatch, the shelter manager of the SPCA contacted the department on Jan. 31, referencing a dog that had been shot in the 1700 Block of Pine Mountain Road in Wayne Township.

The SPCA manager said they were called by a motorist on Jan. 27 that was traveling on Pine Mountain Road in the 1700 block when they noticed a dog lying under some laurel bushes by the road in the area of a pull off.

SPCA workers traveled to this location and found the dog, a brindle-colored female pitbull terrier. SPCA workers stated the dog was injured with visible open wounds and initially thought she had been hit by a car. A pink dog leash was tied to a tree close to where she was laying.

Also located were three bullet casings.

The SPCA workers transported the dog to RoseBird Veterinary Center in Jersey Shore for treatment. The dog was X-rayed and it was determined the dog was not hit by a car but had been shot. The X-ray showed two bullets lodged in the body of the dog. One of the bullets was able to be removed and the other is not able to be removed. The dog suffered a shattered humerus bone and has undergone surgery and continues to be hospitalized.

The Clinton County SPCA posted on its Facebook page photos of the dog and a description of what happened.

The SPCA put out a request for donations to assist with the vet bills that were adding up and a request for any information about the dog’s owner. Calls started coming in to the SPCA with information on who they believed the dog’s owner was. This information was passed on to the Pine Creek Township Police Department.

Based on the information provided, the police contacted Standridge to come in for an interview.

Standridge admitted the dog, named Luna, was his and stated on Jan. 21 he took the dog to that location and tied her to the tree and fired three shots at Luna.

Standridge told police he thought the dog was deceased.

Standridge, 34, was charged with two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, one count of cruelty to animals and three counts of neglect of an animal. Standridge was arraigned by District Judge Keith Kibler and bail was set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled.