Lovell man charged with stomping dog to death at residency

A 44-year-old Lovell man who allegedly stomped a dog to death while talking on the phone to its owner is facing a felony charge of cruelty to animals in the Fifth Judicial District Court of Big Horn County.

Raymond Vern Calvert was arrested May 12, 2025, by sheriff’s deputies responding to an emergency call from a woman who claimed that Calvert had just killed her dog.

Upon arrival at their Quebec Avenue residence, deputies found Calvert inside the home and observed three animal crates in the living area. Calvert told authorities they had three dogs, but only two were present. When asked about the third, he initially suggested it was outside, then said he didn’t know where it was.

Calvert later allegedly acknowledged that the dog had died, admitted to stomping it, and said he buried it “at Loretta’s cabin.”

According to the affidavit, the dog’s owner told authorities she was working at the Family Dollar when she received a call from Calvert. “(She) stated she could hear her dog crying and screaming while Calvert stomped on her dog,” reads the affidavit.

The woman said she immediately left the store and returned home, where she found her dog dead on the porch. She said Calvert proceeded to get a plastic bag, put the dog in it and leave. He returned about five minutes later. 

Greg Hess, the sheriff’s deputy who wrote the affidavit, said, “When I asked (the woman) if she knew where Loretta’s cabin was, (she) stated that Calvert was not gone long enough to go to any cabin,” adding that she suspected he just threw the dog into the canal by their house.

On the ride to jail, Calvert allegedly said his sister would beat up the woman, that all her dogs would be dead and that he shouldn’t get in trouble for telling the truth.  At one point, he allegedly asked Hess to “stop the truck, get him out, give him a talking to, a slap and let him go.”  Between Basin and Greybull, he “got majorly upset and began to slam his head into the cage and was hollering,” according to Hess.

The felony animal cruelty charge carries a maximum sentence of up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,000.