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Case #13568 Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Dog shot, ankle shattered
Rainier, WA (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
County: Thurston
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Misty Rose Bryars
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
Eight-year-old Labrador Nerd has seen better days. Stitches mark where his hind leg used to be. Someone shot him during his walk in a rural part of the county one week ago on Sunday.
Owner Lori Kellogg said she turned her back for just a minute, heard a gunshot then saw her dog covered in blood.
"I went crazy," she said. "I just snapped and I screamed."
Kellogg said Nerd was running under a fence, following a curious scent when he was shot.
"It was beyond any yelp that I have ever heard. It was almost human, it was screaming," said Kellogg. "And, believe it or not, I saw tears in his eyes. It must have been more pain than he could handle because he just couldn't quit screaming."
Neighbors heard the blast, then Kellogg's screams. They found her and Nerd and his pool of blood, and rushed them to the nearest emergency vet.
X-rays showed extreme damage to the dog's ankle. Doctors made the tough choice to amputate the entire leg.
"My hardened techs - it even grossed them out because the leg just flopped and it had a gaping wound in it where it hit, and the leg was just barely held on," said Dr. Jerry Brown with Yelm Veterinary Hospital.
The dog is now recovering, learning to walk on three legs. He's managing rather well, and doctors say he should be back up to full speed in a few more weeks.
A neighbor paid for all of the medical costs, which totaled more than $2,000.
Kellogg is grateful for the generosity and for Nerd's promising recovery. But she won't rest easy until detectives find the person behind the cold-blooded crime.
"It's not fair for it to happen to any dog, a stray dog even," she said. "But this is a family dog (who was) born on Valentine's Day, a sweetheart. And he doesn't deserve it, and I want the people caught that did it."
So far investigators have no suspects.
A fund has been set up for Nerd at Anchor Bank to help Kellogg pay back her neighbor. Any extra donations will be given to the non-profit group Concern for Animals.
Case UpdatesA Thurston County woman has pleaded guilty to first-degree animal cruelty for shooting a dog in the leg in March in the 16000 block of Reichel Road, southwest of Rainier.
Misty Rose Bryars, 28, pleaded guilty Monday in Thurston County Superior Court as part of a plea deal. The prosecutor will recommend that she be sentenced to 30 days in the Thurston County Jail, with 10 days' credit for time served, and the remainder of the time spent on work release. She also must pay more than $1,000 in fines.
Bryars must undergo a mental-health evaluation as part of the plea.
On March 28, a woman told police that she was walking her two dogs on Reichel Road when she heard a gunshot and looked down to see her dog's lower left leg "completely destroyed." A witness said he saw Bryars with a rifle, court papers state.
The owner obtained medical treatment for the yelping dog. Court papers don't mention whether the dog survived.
When sheriff's detective Steve Hamilton spoke with Bryars, she said, "we never planned on the dog getting shot." Bryars also said the dog had mauled her cat the day before, court papers state.
In her guilty plea to the court, Bryars wrote: "I am not pleading guilty because I am guilty. I am pleading guilty to take advantage of a plea agreement. I acknowledge that in the event of a trial, the state may have sufficient evidence to convict me."
The maximum jail time Bryars could have faced is one year. | Source: The Olympian - Oct 23, 2008
Update posted on Oct 23, 2008 - 11:02PM |
A woman accused of shooting off a Rainier dog's leg last March is behind bars after failing to appear for a court date.
Misty Rose Bryars, 27, was arraigned last May in Thurston County Superior Court on charges of first-degree animal cruelty and reckless endangerment while armed with a deadly weapon.
She pleaded not guilty.
A bench warrant was issued for Bryars Wednesday, Aug. 6 for failing to appear for a court date.
A trial was set for Monday, Aug. 11, but was canceled.
Bryars is being held in Thurston County Jail without bail.
Her next court date is set for Wednesday, Aug. 20. That hearing is expected to establish conditions of release.
On March 30, Rainier resident Lori Kellogg took her two dogs for an afternoon walk.
Bryars allegedly shot Nerd, a chocolate lab, in the leg after he ducked under a fence to smell something.
Nerd's entire left hind leg had to be amputated as a result of the shooting.
Bryars was one of two people staying in a fifth-wheel trailer, where Kellogg originally believed the shots came from.
"All I want out of anything is that this doesn't happen again," Kellogg said. "You can't randomly shoot things."
Since his accident, Nerd has been doing better.
He's resumed swimming.
"Nerd can swim as good as he ever did," Kellogg said. | Source: Nisqually Valley News - Aug 15, 2008
Update posted on Aug 15, 2008 - 10:03PM |
Almost two months after her dog had his leg brutally shot off during an afternoon walk, Lori Kellogg is finally starting to see the light of justice.
Misty Rose Bryars, 27, was arraigned Tuesday in Thurston County Superior Court on charges of first-degree animal cruelty and reckless endangerment while armed with a deadly weapon.
She pleaded innocent and a trial date is set for Aug. 11.
Bryars was one of two people staying in a fifth-wheel trailer from which Kellogg originally believed the shots were fired.
After learning it was Bryars who may have fired the shot, "I was shocked," Kellogg said. "I think everyone was."
Kellogg said she originally thought it was Bryars' boyfriend who fired the shots at her chocolate lab, Nerd.
The trailer was located on the property of Ron Russell, who is Bryars' stepfather.
In court documents obtained by the Nisqually Valley News, Russell told investigators that he was on the property at the time of the shooting.
"He walked over to the fifth-wheel trailer to investigate, but (Bryars) would not speak to him," the document states.
Bryars' boyfriend was also on the property at the time of the shooting.
"(The boyfriend) reported that he was inside the trailer when he heard the defendant yelling her cat's name," the court document states. "He then heard her yell, 'get out of here,' and immediately a rifle shot rang out."
"Adams jumped up and went outside. He observed (Bryars) outside with the rifle in her hands."
The incident occurred March 30. Kellogg was on an afternoon walk with her two dogs.
Nerd's left hind leg had to be amputated as a result of the gunshot.
Neighbor Carol Combs rushed Nerd to the hospital and paid his medical bills.
Kellogg has since been trying to find ways to repay Combs. She created donation accounts at Anchor and Timberland banks.
Almost two months later, Nerd is still trying to get acclimated to the situation.
"It's really bad," Kellogg said. "He twists (his good leg) over and over again."
"He's a big, bouncy dog and he's doing way too much for one leg."
Kellogg said she is hoping that, if Bryars is convicted, she'll be required to pay restitution.
"She shouldn't have shot at anything with so many animals around here," Kellogg said. "I hope she can pay."
"I need some kind of restitution to pay Carol back and take care of him." | Source: Nisqually Valley News - May 23, 2008
Update posted on Aug 15, 2008 - 9:59PM |
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