Dog shot
Coeur d'Alene, ID (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 11, 2008
County: Kootenai

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Lee Rudkin

A Coeur d'Alene man claims his dog accidentally discharged his handgun while trying to get a drink of water off his nightstand.

Lee Rudkin said the pistol discharged eight times about noon Tuesday, including one round that struck Zeus, a 3-year-old Rottweiler, in the right side.

The dog survived and is recovering at home. Rudkin told police that he was walking out of the bathroom when he saw Zeus touch the gun with his paw and before it started firing.

"It was a one in million shot," Rudkin said. "He's never gotten up on the nightstand before."

Police aren't buying Rudkin's lucky dog story. They allege Rudkin shot his own dog and charged him with unlawful discharge of a firearm in the city and cruelty to animals.

Rudkin, who lives on Sixth Street, denies he shot his dog and said he's livid about being charged with criminal conduct.

A roommate called police and reported the incident.

Rudkin told police the gun malfunctioned and he took the dog to a veterinarian immediately after the shooting.

"He's my best friend," Rudkin said. "He's all I have. I moved here from Missouri and I don't have many friends."

Rudkin wasn't taken to jail. He was cited with two misdemeanors. A court hearing has not been set. If convicted he could face fines and jail time for each offense.

Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Christie Wood defended the officer's decision to charge Rudkin.

"If only that dog could talk," Wood said. "I think we have the evidence to show what happened."

One of the bullets struck the bed before continuing on to the nearby wall. Investigators concluded that the bullet hole on the bed didn't line with any of the holes in the wall and that the trajectory angles don't match, a police report states.

Also, the nightstand where the gun was reportedly placed had a cover of dust on it and none of it had been disturbed, the report says.

Rudkin said he doesn't understand why the police didn't test his hands for gunpowder residue and says it would have proved his innocence.

Wood said the police only perform that test on people who are involved in fatal shootings.

Zeus should make a full recovery, Rudkin said.

"He's on medication and he's pretty sore," Rudkin said. "If you mention going for a ride, it's like he's magically healed and he jumps right up."

References

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