An Ajax man is facing charges after allegedly abusing a puppy over the weekend.

According to the DRPS, officers were called to a pet supply store in the area of Kingston Road and Salem Road for the report of animal cruelty around 2 p.m. on Saturday (July 24).

“Officers arrived on scene and spoke to the staff members who reported they had located a puppy wandering in the plaza. They brought the puppy into their store to keep it safe when a male entered the store claiming to be the owner,” reads a media release from police.

“Upon handing the puppy over to the man, he struck it in the head with an object and repeatedly assaulted it as he exited the business. The suspect entered a trailer parked nearby.”

Police say the man refused to cooperate with officers when they arrived and barricaded himself inside the trailer.

“Following a confrontation with officers, the suspect was taken into custody,” a media release reads.

The puppy was removed by animal control and taken to a veterinarian for examination, police noted.

Sheldon McPherson, 38, has been charged with willfully cause unnecessary suffering to an animal under the Criminal Code and cause animal to be in distress under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.

He was released on an undertaking.