Man threatened dog, fatally shot self. No tears from me.

FLORIDA -- Dennis Emery was no stranger to the law. He had run-ins with Pinellas Park police 34 times since 2012, and was arrested last month three times in less than a week.

But Tuesday morning, police got their final call from his home.

"He was involved in a domestic disturbance with his wife. During that disturbance he retrieves a firearm, he produces the firearm, and he threatens to shoot one of the family's animals," Pinellas Park police's Sgt. Adam Geissenberger said Tuesday.

Police say he cocked the gun, lowered the hammer, and then for some reason turned the gun around toward his face right as it fired. Based on witness statements, investigators believe it was an accident.

"It's a shame. It's a damn shame. I never figured him to be irresponsible with a handgun," next door neighbor Dallas Collins said.

Collins says Emery's wife owned 13 border collies. He says the dogs' barking was a constant problem between the couple.

"Anytime, day or night, it doesn't matter," he said.

The dogs made it out of the fight just fine. But Emery's family is now mourning the loss of their loved one.

"We're very close the holiday. Loss of life, regardless of the situation, is very tragic and now this family has to deal with the loss of a loved one very close to the holidays," Geissenberger added.

While police say the shooting appears to be accidental, they haven't ruled out suicide.

(MyFoxDFW - Nov 25, 2014)