Stevenson man pleads not guilty to blowing up dog

A Stevenson man accused of blowing up his dog pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Skamania County Superior Court.

Christopher Wayne Dillingham, 45, was charged with possessing an explosive device with intent to use for an unlawful purpose, first-degree animal cruelty, two counts of reckless endangerment and a fireworks violation.

Dillingham faces three to four years in prison for the felony charges, said Prosecuting Attorney Adam Kick. Dillingham does not have any past felony offenses on his record, he added.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Dillingham blew up his dog, a yellow lab named Cabela, at his house in Stevenson with an explosive he made using black powder around 4 a.m. Aug. 4. He wrapped the explosive around the dog and distracted it with dog treats.

Later that morning, when sheriff’s deputies approached the house, they could hear things being thrown from a window onto the lawn. While being arrested, he told the deputies that he was preparing for “the rapture” and that the world would end due to a nuclear strike. He said the soul of demons had been placed in the metal belongings in his house.

Deputies found the dog had been decapitated, apparently from the explosion, according to the affidavit. Dillingham told deputies that he killed the dog, which his ex-girlfriend had given him, because she put the devil in it.

He remains in the Skamania County Jail on $500,000 bail. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 14.