The owner of the 2-year-old husky is outraged at authorities for not charging the man who shot the dog with animal cruelty, who claimed he was forced to take action to save his chickens, who were clucking about on his property last month when they were ambushed.
Authorities said Monday they’re wrapping up an investigation into the dog’s death but don’t expect to charge 62-year-old William Stock with animal cruelty or unlawful discharge of a weapon for shooting a neighbor’s dog on the evening of July 20.
Authorities said the shooting is justified because Mr. Stock was protecting chickens on his 352 West Hill Road property from an attacking husky that had cornered some of them in a coop.
State law protects owners who “kill any dog which he observes pursuing or worrying any such domestic animal or poultry” from being prosecuted.
“As far as animal control is concerned, we’re done with the case,” said Caitlin Nield, the animal control officer who handled the case.
The owner of the 2-year-old husky takes exception with the accounts of authorities and the Mr. Stock, saying his dog didn’t kill or maim any of the chickens.
“I’m completely outraged,” said 25-year-old Korey Johnson, the owner of Zeus, a malamute husky. “This dog has touched every person’s life. He is a big pile of love and wouldn’t hurt a soul.”
Mr. Stock said one of his 30 chickens is missing; it was likely dragged into a rural area near Mr. Stock’s home, which is situated on the Torrington and New Hartford town lines.
An animal control officer found a trail of feathers leading from Mr. Stock’s home, and Acting Lt. Steve Rousseau of the Torrington Police Department, said that “chicken guts” were found on the property.
Mr. Johnson said his dog had separation anxiety after being uprooted from his home in Newfane, Vermont.
The dog was adjusting to life at Mr. Johnson’s parents’ home at 246 West Hill Road. Mr. Johnson said the dog was with his parents while he went to his job as a bartender at a Farmington restaurant.
The dog was off its leash in the yard when it suddenly bolted around 6:30 p.m. on July 20. About 20 minutes later, Mr. Johnson said, his sister heard five shots ring out.
Mr. Johnson’s mother found the dog’s bullet-riddled body early the next morning.
Zeus was lying in a pile of leaves near a wooded area, yards from Mr. Stock’s home.
Mr. Johnson claims his dog was found facing away from Mr. Stock’s home, in a position that he believes means that Zeus was retreating and was chased and viciously shot by at least five rounds from Mr. Stock’s .40-caliber semiautomatic gun.
“He kind of bit the dust as he was running,” Mr. Johnson said.
Police would only say that the dog was shot more than once; Mr. Stock declined to say how many rounds he fired.
Mr. Stock was visited last week by Torrington animal control and police detectives, who were looking into the events of the dog’s death. He told them he has had to ward off predatory animals in the past and mistook the husky for a coyote.
Mr. Stock said he was never asked by police to produce the weapon or registration that says he legally owns the firearm. He said he would show it to police if they ask but declined to show it to a Register Citizen reporter.
Mr. Stock said he didn’t know the owner of the dog but wants to write a letter apologizing for the tragic outcome. He said he planned to contact Mr. Johnson in the future once he digests the death.
“I feel terrible about shooting that dog,” he said. “I never would have shot it if I knew it was a dog. But it was attacking my chickens, and I had to protect my chickens. It’s very unfortunate.”
Mr. Johnson was still aggravated Monday. He said he doesn’t understand the police department’s decision not to bring charges against Mr. Stock, especially since he has chickens illegally on his property.
Mr. Stock’s home is in a rural stretch of Torrington, a stone’s throw from the New Hartford town line. Since it’s on the Torrington side, he must obey city ordinances that allow chickens only on properties with three or more acres.
According to town records, Mr. Stock’s home sits on an acre.
Rista Malanca, the city’s Zoning, Inland and Wetlands officer, said Mr. Stock was sent a warning in the mail July 21 informing him he has to get rid of the chickens immediately.
Mr. Stock said he plans to sell the chickens to a friend this week.
Homeowners have a grace period to comply with the city’s ordinance, Ms. Malanca said. After a month, the city can fine homeowners $150 a day.
Mr. Johnson said he was unnecessarily forced to bury his dog in his parents’ backyard. He said the dog had a collar that “jingled like a bell” and should have immediately alerted Mr. Stock it was a pet.
Mr. Stock said he acted on “reflex” and didn’t fire off a warning shot, adding that the situation evolved quickly.
Unsatisfied with the outcome of the investigation, Mr. Johnson said authorities didn’t examine the case with “great scrutiny.”
“You have people with guns with happy trigger fingers,” he said. “This guy put five bullets into a domestic animal without thinking twice about it.”
Lt. Rousseau defended police’s investigation and said evidence vindicated Mr. Stock.
“There was plenty of evidence on the ground,” he said.
(Litchfield County Times - July 31, 2014)
Blaming someone for shooting your dog when it's going after livestock is like blaming the driver for hitting your dog when you've let it run on the freeway.
ReplyDeleteDoggie would be still alive if its owners were responsible and kept it safely contained.