A photo depicting a pit bull terrier shot to death by an arrow, accompanied by a teen's boastful statement about killing any pit bulls that come on his property, has created a huge furor on Facebook.

That has reportedly led the teenaged boy who posted the photo and his mother to leave Tahlequah, and possibly the country, because of death threats.

KRMG contacted the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office shortly after learning of the post. We have posted the response below.

The Facebook page where the photo originally appeared was owned by a Caisen Green, of Tahlequah.

Because the photo is widely available publicly, we have chosen to run it, with part of it modified to make it less graphic.

Green's Facebook page has been taken down.

Another Facebook page has sprung up, condemning the dog's killing and Green's post.

Within hours it had more than 750 likes, as word began to spread about the apparent case of animal cruelty.

Here is the full text of the statement to KRMG:

An incident involving a Cherokee County resident, CAISEN GREEN, fatally shooting a pit bull dog with a bow and arrow was brought to the attention of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office this morning.

<i>The incident was publicized on GREEN's Facebook account.  The publication of the incident drew concern from other Facebook account holders and the information was spread across Facebook.  CCSO has received numerous calls about the incident from not only concerned people in Cherokee County and the State of Oklahoma, but all across the United States and several foreign countries.  An additional Facebook account was created about the incident by unknown persons.  On this second Facebook page, posters have threatened to do bodily harm to GREEN and his family. </i>

<i>CCSO Undersheriff Jason Chennault and Deputy Dexter Scott are investigating the fatal shooting of the pit bull dog.  Contact has been made with GREEN's family, although GREEN is currently unavailable to be interviewed about the incident.  This matter will be fully investigated and a prosecution report will be forwarded to the District Attorney when the investigation is complete. </i>

<i>The concern over the fatal shooting of the animal is understood, but please refrain from making any threats against GREEN or the GREEN family.  Those threats will also be investigated and the people making the threats may be subject to prosecution.  </i>