ZACHARY ROBERT HIXSON sentenced to five years in state prison for savagely abusing a dog to the extent that the furvictim was left paralyzed

- Pennsylvania, USA -

⚠️WARNING⚠️The article contains details some of you may find distressing⚠️

On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Common Pleas Judge Scott Mears sentenced 31-year-old ZACHARY ROBERT HIXSON (pictured), of Mount Pleasant, to state prison after he abused a defenseless dog so severely that the furvictim was paralyzed.

The case dates back to July 2024, when the woman who at the time was HIXSON’s girlfriend, called the police to report that her 10-year-old Shih-Tzu named Snickers, was severely injured.

Troopers responded to a home in South Huntingdon Township and found Snickers lying on a cushion, unable to walk. The woman told troopers that Snickers “had failing health” since HIXSON had moved in.

HIXSON had cell phone videos showing him abusing Snickers. Troopers reviewed the videos and reported that HIXSON could be seen punching Snickers in the head, choking him, shaking him, beating him with a water jug, holding a lit cigarette to his eye, and holding Snickers by his tail and then dropping him.

Snickers suffered a broken spine and consequently was unable to walk.

HIXSON was arrested on July 26, 2024. Troopers said HIXSON was combative while he was in custody and spat in their direction.

Pennsylvania State Police, in cooperation with the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office, charged HIXSON with aggravated cruelty to animals and neglect.

HIXSON was then was arraigned and lodged in jail on $50,000 bail.

In June 2026, HIXSON pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated animal cruelty, neglect, and animal cruelty. He previously rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors that called for him to serve at least eighteen months in jail and five years on probation.

On Tuesday, at the sentencing hearing, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Ranger played the appalling videos showing HIXSON torturing Snickers. Additionally, she read messages that HIXSON had sent laughing about him brutalizing Snickers. One of the messages read: “It’s paralyzed lol”. Another read “The dog can’t walk lol”.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Ranger also read a statement from Snickers’ guardian who was not in court.

On Tuesday, Judge Scott Mears sentenced HIXSON to serve up to sixty (60) months in state prison. As part of the sentence, HIXSON must undergo a mental health evaluation and is prohibited from owning an animal for only fourteen years.

Snickers is alive but will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair!

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from information provided to Voice For Us by the Westmoreland County District Attorney's Office. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

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