( CNN ) -- A Florida man is accused of strangling a family puppy , chopping it into pieces and cooking its ribs on the stove , Tampa police said . Thomas Elliot Huggins , 25 , was arrested Thursday after a family member called police . `` When officers arrived , they found the dog 's ribs cooked in a pot on the stove , '' Tampa police said . `` The dog 's head was in the garbage . '' Huggins had strangled the 5- to 6-month-old puppy and chopped it into quarters , storing pieces in the freezer for future meals , authorities said . He was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty . Animal control officials took the remains of the puppy . Smugglers drive Thailand 's grim trade in dog meat . A national spotlight on animal abuse .
Police officer Thomas Elliot Huggins strangled and cut up a puppy . When police arrived , they found the puppy 's ribs cooking on the stove .