Two in jail for animal cruelty

SMITH COUNTY – Two men were arrested in Smith County on Tuesday after being accused of hanging a dog from a tree, leading to its death. According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of animal cruelty at a property off in rural Tyler on March 13. Once on the scene, deputies spoke with the property owner, who said he had found a white dog hanging from a tree in his yard after two unknown men had illegally entered his premises.

Deputies later spoke with residents in the area who confirmed they observed the same two men two or three days earlier and claimed they had the same dog in their possession. After opening an investigation, the sheriff’s office identified the suspects as 17-year-old Jay Stansberry and 33-year-old Billy Perry, both of Tyler. Both men were arrested on Tuesday and charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals. Their bonds have been set at $100,000 each and they are currently being held in the Smith County Jail.