Mt. Pleasant man pleads guilty to torture of girlfriend's dog

A Mt. Pleasant Township man is facing a 4-year prison sentence for the torture of a dog owned by his now former girlfriend.

Zachary Robert Hixson, 30, pleaded guilty Monday to two felony counts including aggravated cruelty to animals, neglect of an animal and animal cruelty in connection with allegations he violently assaulted a 10-year-old shih tzu named Snickers while living at his girlfriend’s South Huntingdon home last summer.

Police contended Hixson punched, kicked and choked the dog, causing it to suffer significant injuries that included a fractured spine that left it unable to walk. In addition, police accused Hixson of using a cigarette to burn the dog’s eye.

Videos of the incidents were found on the dog owner’s cellphone that had been used by Hixson, according to court records.

During a preliminary hearing last year, those videos were played in court. They showed the assaults but not Hixson’s face. He was identified by tattoos that matched ones on the left forearm of the man who appeared in the videos, police said.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Ranger, following Monday’s court hearing, said the dog continues to struggle as a result of the injuries inflicted by Hixson.

A police officer testified last year that Hixson claimed he disciplined the dog after being bitten.

Hixson on Monday said he pleaded guilty to all four counts filed against him because it was in his best interest to do so.

Hixson, who has been in jail since his arrest on July 26, 2024, rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors that called for him to serve two consecutive sentences that would have required him to serve at least 18 months in jail and five additional years on probation. He instead opted for Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears to impose a sentence following a hearing that will be convened in about three months.

“I might do better or I might not do better (than the prosecution’s proposed plea deal),” Mears said.