Boy Injects Dog With Air, Killing It: Cops

Police in Venango Township, Pa., say a 12-year-old boy allegedly killed his family's dog by injecting the animal with air.

The boy, whose name has not been released, is accused of stealing several syringes from a neighbor, then injecting air into the Labrador mix, the Associated Press reports.

Police say the boy knew that injecting air into a blood vessel can cause potentially deadly air bubbles. The dog became sick and died a week later, according to the Titusville Herald.

The boy was arrested last week, and police say they plan to file theft and animal cruelty charges.

Since the incident has been reported, a petition requesting that the boy be required to do community service has popped up on thepetitionsite.com. The petition states:

"Let’s encourage authorities to 'punish' this youngster for his abusive behavior through community service, especially some supervised work in a shelter or other animal facility, he can learn how to be respectable and responsible with animals."

As of Tuesday, the petition had more than 700 signatures.