A Guyton man is in the Effingham County Jail after shooting and presumably killing a family’s pet Boston terrier Thursday.

Jacob Newman, 22, of Guyton, was riding a motorcycle through his neighborhood — holding an infant at the time — when the Boston terrier began barking.

According to deputies, Newman stopped the motorcycle and shot the Boston terrier twice with a .380-caliber handgun. 

The dog was unable to be located at the time of the incident, but it was later discovered and has been nursed back to health.

Newman was riding the motorcycle without a helmet, as was the infant. The infant, according to Effingham County Sheriff’s Office David Ehsanipoor, was Newman’s child.

“There were no helmets and no safety equipment,” Ehsanipoor said.

Newman has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, first degree cruelty to children and reckless conduct.

“Animal cruelty is a growing problem and will not be tolerated in Effingham County,” said Effingham Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.