Doctors say a dog is recovering from surgery after she was stabbed multiple times and had her throat slit.

Our news partner Action News reports that St. Johns County Deputy Dan Sorrells plans to adopt Amber, a St. Bernard mix, when she's well enough to leave the hospital.

St. Johns County deputies say the dog's owner, 28 year-old Randal Hart, was the attacker.  They say Hart admitted that stabbed the dog on Sunday night because she needed to be "put down" for attacking his kitten.   The deputy located the kitten and did not find any injury. The kitten was playing with another dog on the property.

There was also a witness who told St. Johns County Animal Control that Hart repeatedly stabbed the dog and then dragged her to a nearby plot of land.

Officials say Hart relinquished ownership of the dog. He's been charged with animal cruelty and remains in jail on $5,000 bail.