Authorities report a Batesville woman is facing a felony animal cruelty charge after authorities say she severely injured her dog at an apartment complex on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident was described to officers as a blackout rage she couldn’t fully explain.
Gretchen Nicole Hines, age 34, was arrested March 18th 2026 after Batesville Police Department officers responded to an address on Lawson Drive shortly after 2 p.m. following a call about a woman injuring a dog at the complex.
Hines is charged with one count of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or equine, a Class D felony,
Hines is additionally charged as a habitual offender, which makes her subject to an extended term of imprisonment under Arkansas law.
Hines told investigators she did not want to return to jail, that she had forgotten to take her medication, and that she had experienced a “PTSD moment”, blacking out.
Hines told investigators that her dog was not dead but “just severely injured” and was being taken to a veterinarian.
Hines said she had come home to find her apartment in disarray, tripped over the dogs, and blacked out, when she came to, she had an object in her hand and was striking the animals.
The injured dog was found on steps near the end of the apartment complex, where bystanders were rendering aid to it.
Animal Control Officers took possession of the animal, which was later transported to a local veterinary clinic.
The boyfriend of Hines, who was away from the apartment at the time of the incident, stated to investigators that Hines called him and told him she had “chopped up the dog,”
Authorities say a friend of Hines told police that Hines had called her, admitted to striking the dog in a rage, and asked to be taken to a mental hospital.
Hines is being held on a $100,000 bond.
