Charles J. Perkins was barking up the wrong tree Wednesday night.

The 19-year-old Butler man was arrested and charged with barking at a police dog in Butler.

The charge, taunting a police animal, is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.

“By what (Perkins) did, he could have injured the K-9,” said Butler police Patrolman David Villotti.

The 45-pound German shepherd canine officer “Blade” was provoked but not hurt, it turned out.

The case of “man barks dog” unfolded just after 10:30 p.m. as Villotti, Blade’s handler, was in the middle of a traffic stop in the 500 block of West New Castle Street.

The officer was seated in his patrol car, with the canine in the back seat, when Perkins and a 17-year-old Butler boy with him walked by.

Blade began barking. Perkins barked back.

“He claimed he didn’t know it was the K-9 barking,” Villotti said of the suspect. “He said he thought it was another dog down the street.”

The barking set off Blade.

“The K-9 became very agitated and began hitting, scratching and biting the (protective) window guard,” Villotti said. “The dog could have harmed himself.”

According to the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, it is “unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, kick or strike a police animal.”

The officer said that even as he approached Perkins to take him into custody, some 20 feet past the patrol car, the teen was still barking.

The defendant was arraigned on the felony charge and placed in Butler County Prison on $3,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for June 2.

Villotti said he didn’t know what motivated the suspected canine copycat. But this was not the first time for Perkins.

The defendant late last year got a warning for barking at the K-9.

“This time,” Villotti said, “he got arrested.”