A California man allegedly prone to domestic violence is accused of killing his girlfriend’s dog and feeding her the remains.

The relationship between the unidentified girlfriend and the accused Ryan Eddy Watenpaugh was described by Redding police as “toxic.” The woman told the police that after being physically abused during the first week of August by Watenpaugh, she fled her apartment and returned to find her pet Pomeranian, Bear, missing. The couple eventually reconciled during the first week of September when Watenpaugh served the woman a meal that included meat.

Watenpaugh soon made it clear to the woman that the meat was Bear. CNN affiliate KCRC obtained the following text messages sent from Watenpaugh to the woman:

“How’s your dog taste? I thought it was better with BBQ and those Hawaiian buns.”

“I guess u could bury what u didn’t eat.”

“The smile on my face as you read this...priceless.”

Watenpaugh also left a small bag at the woman’s home with a note that read, “I hate you so much it hurts. I want nothing to do with you. F--- you.” Two dog paws were inside the bag.

Charged with domestic violence, false imprisonment, stalking and animal cruelty, Redding police arrested Watenpaugh two days later. He has since admitted to sending the messages and dog paws but denied killing or cooking Bear. He’s being held on a $250,000 bail in the Shasta County jail.