Montana Man Charged With Animal Cruelty After Dog Records .348 Blood Alcohol Level

A Montana man who allegedly fed vodka to a dog was arrested on an animal cruelty charge after investigators found the animal’s blood alcohol content to be more than four times the legal limit (for humans).

According to a police affidavit filed in Lewis and Clark District Court, officers were called to a bar earlier this month after two men brought in an “intoxicated dog.” When an employee placed the canine--known as Arly II--on the floor, “he was unable to walk in a straight line and continually fell over and lost balance.”

One man who claimed ownership of the dog told police that Todd Schrier, 49, had given Arly II “a ‘to-go cup size’ worth of vodka.”

As an East Helena officer watched, Arly II attempted to walk but fell over and “struggled to raise himself to his own feet when picked up and placed back on the ground.” Concerned that his condition was serious, police took the 20-pound dog--described as either a Pomeranian or Pomeranian mix--to an animal clinic for evaluation. Tests revealed the pooch had a BAC of .348 (the state's legal limit is .08).

Schrier, pictured in the above mug shot, was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, as well as felony drug possession after cops found a bag containing Hydrocodone pills on the ground where he was standing outside the bar. He is currently jailed on $30,000 bail and scheduled to appear in court today.

Arly II is now recovering at a Humane Society animal shelter.