Bobby Atkinson.Credit : Louisville Metro Police Dept.

NEED TO KNOW

Bobby Atkinson, 37, allegedly threatened to shoot his wife before her two dogs were found burned and covered in ash
According to reports, one dog emerged from beneath a bed “covered in ash” with open wounds and burned fur after the woman returned home
Atkinson pleaded not guilty to animal torture, cruelty and threatening charges after his bond was raised to $50,000

A Kentucky man allegedly threatened to shoot his wife before setting her two dogs on fire after she confronted him about another woman.

Bobby Atkinson, 37, is accused of threatening to kill his wife during a morning altercation at their Louisville home before allegedly torturing her dogs, Brooklyn and Seven, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, WAVE and WKRC.

According to the outlets, Atkinson’s wife told police the confrontation began after she discovered another woman in the house. She alleged Atkinson had armed himself with a handgun as she prepared her children for school.

“While holding the handgun to his side, the perpetrator advanced on the victim and made the statement ‘If we didn’t have a daughter together I’d shoot you and stand over you,’” an arrest citation states, according to the Courier Journal.

Police said Atkinson’s wife left the home with her children to seek an emergency protective order before later returning to retrieve medication, according to the Courier Journal and WLKY.

The Courier Journal further reported that she returned to the house again after a friend informed her Atkinson would be having a child with another woman. When she arrived home, the woman allegedly heard a smoke alarm and smelled something burning, per the outlet.

One of the dogs allegedly emerged from beneath a bed “covered in ash” and suffering open wounds and burned fur, the Courier Journal and WAVE reported. The woman told police the dogs were covered in ash and appeared to have some sort of accelerant on their fur, according to the outlets.

Both dogs were taken to Louisville Metro Animal Services for treatment, per the outlets.

Atkinson was arrested at approximately 3:40 p.m. on May 21, according to the Courier Journal.

He was charged with two counts of torture of a dog or cat, two counts of second-degree cruelty to animals, one count of menacing and one count of third-degree terroristic threatening, per online jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.

He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Friday. His bond was initially set at $20,000 before a judge later raised it to $50,000, according to WAVE, WLKY and WKRC.

Atkinson’s wife, who declined to appear on camera, told WAVE she feared for her family’s safety.

Shelia Joneleit, executive director of The Arrow Fund, told WAVE the allegations reflected the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence.

“When people set dogs on fire because they’re trying to make a point with their ex-spouse, it is pure terror,” Joneleit told the outlet. “It’s pure torture of the animal.”