NORTH CAROLINA -- The Wilkes Sheriff’s Office charged a man with felony cruelty to animals after he admitted shooting and killing a dog that belonged to his neighbors.
Benjamin Price, 34, of 958 Grace Howard Road, Roaring River, was arrested Friday on a charge filed by Deputy C.E. Wyatt.
The deputy's report said the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 30 and was reported about 12:15 a.m. Dec. 31.
Wyatt said Jim and Diane Goodrum, also of Grace Howard Road, let their dogs out of their house not knowing that their solar-powered gate was open due to inclement weather. The deputy said one of the dogs went down the road to where Price lives.
Price said he was going to his “burn barrel” when a dog approached while barking and acting aggressive toward him, Wyatt reported.
Price said he got a .22-caliber rifle from his house but the dog was gone when he returned. According to the report, Price said that after he went back to the burn barrel, he shot and wounded the dog after it started walking toward him and barking at him.
Price said he shot the dog in the back of the head when he realized it wasn’t dead, Wyatt reported.
According to the report, Mrs. Goodrum went to Price’s home and asked Price is he had seen her dog after Goodrum heard a shot. The report said Price then told her he shot the dog.
Wyatt said Mrs. Goodrum retrieved her dog, which is part Labrador, from Price’s property and called the sheriff’s office to file a report.
Wyatt wrote in his report, “When I talked to Mr. Price and asked why he shot the dog, he stated they have dogs get after their chickens and kill them. Price also stated (that) he thought the dog was aggressive toward him and he was frightened.”
Wyatt said the Goodrums stated that the dog was friendly and would never hurt anyone.
Wyatt’s report indicated that he consulted with the district attorney’s office before charging Price.
(Journal Patriot - Jan 11, 2016)
So, it's a felony to shoot aggressive dogs these days? You have to wait until they actually draw blood, or is that a felony too?
ReplyDeleteOr are you going to argue that a bullet to the back of the head is less humane than bundling the dog up and driving it miles to a vet and waiting for your turn to euthanize it?