Dog shot to death
Springfield, MO (US)Incident Date: Friday, Oct 31, 2008
County: Greene
Disposition: Not Charged
Abuser names unreleased
Greene County sheriff's deputies are investigating the fatal shooting of a pit bull terrier. It happened Friday morning around 8 near Catalpa Street at Golden Avenue, just outside the city, which is why Springfield police officers also responded to calls about the shooting.
The owners took the pit bull to an veterinary clinic for treatment but it died later in the day. They say it was not vicious.
"That's my baby. He's the nicest dog in the world. He grew up around kids; he wouldn't hurt a fly," said owner Elizabeth Hayes.
But when the 3-year-old pit bull, Papi, got out at her friend's house, others didn't see him as harmless.
"A little 3-year-old was playing with him, let him out the door, and he came down here," said Hayes.
Hayes says she was driving around looking for the lost dog, and got there too late.
"I was in my car right there. I got out of the car, and I ran after him to get him as soon as they shot him," she said at the scene of the shooting.
The sheriff's department says a man who lives on Golden shot the dog.
"We have the verbal accounts provided by the other side that the dog was on their property and menacing them at some point in this encounter. We just don't have any independent witnesses that can confirm that account," said Capt. Randy Gibson.
"They got in my face and started screaming that he tried to attack somebody," said Hayes.
Gibson says state law requires care, custody and control by pet owners, and the dog was loose.
"Therefore, the law's ability to protect that animal diminishes greatly," said Gibson.
But, although it's legal to shoot firearms outside city limits, it was a residential area, and the dog was not on the man's property when shot.
"The requirements would be that you do so in a safe manner, and that's one of the things our investigation is looking at, whether this was considered a safe use of a firearm," said Gibson.
At the scene on Friday morning, Hayes didn't know if her dog would live.
"I don't know what I would do without him," she said.
Law enforcement officers have a request if you have a problem with a neighbor's dog.
"Call 911, give us the chance to deal with the situation before you take the law into your own hands," said Gibson.
Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Greene County prosecuting attorney's office, where the prosecutor will decide if it's a criminal case. References« MO State Animal Cruelty Map
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