A Mississippi family’s dog was found dead, and a neighbor’s video footage has allegedly shown the pet being attacked by an 11-year-old boy.

On Monday around 3 p.m., Petal police received a call about a dog being attacked, according to Action News 5. A neighbor had video footage of a the boy attacking the leashed dog with a stick.

“He just came down the road Monday, and I guess he saw our dog and decided he was an easy target before beating him to death,” Roberts said. “It was very brutal, and he meant to do it.”

The boy has been arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty for the death of the family dog, police said. Due to the child’s age, he will not be prosecuted as an adult.

WDAM 7 reported that the child was under the supervision of his grandmother, who has also been charged with neglect.

“She apparently was unable to provide adequate supervision of a child that age, which led to a delinquent act by the child,” said Petal Police Department Detective Daniel Klem.

Roberts is petitioning for stronger protections under Senate Bill 2261, also known as “Buddy’s Law.” The law requires a psychiatric evaluation when a domesticated animal has been tortured or killed by a child.

“We want these kids and other people to be held accountable for what they’ve done,” Roberts said. “He did that to our dog, and I don’t know what he can do to other animals or, in the future, to human beings.”

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[Feature Photo: SS via Action News 5]