Ledyard — Police charged a 51-year-old Ledyard man with cruelty to animals on Tuesday for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend’s dog in the neck out of annoyance.

On Tuesday about 6 p.m., Ledyard police said they received a call from the Groton Ledyard Veterinary Hospital about a dog being stabbed. The woman who brought the dog for treatment told police that her boyfriend, David Cooper of 1709 Center Groton Road, became annoyed by the dog jumping up on him and he stabbed the dog in the neck area with a small pocketknife. Police said the incident occurred at Cooper's residence.

Police said the medium-sized dog, of an unknown breed, was treated and released from the animal hospital. 

Cooper is slated to appear May 20 in New London Superior Court. He was released on a $1,000 nonsurety bond.