Pregnant dog shot with handgun, miscarries puppies
Lapeer, MI (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Nov 24, 2008
County: Lapeer

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: man

Warrants are being sought for a Lapeer man accused of shooting his neighbor's pregnant dog with a handgun Monday morning.

The gunshot injured "Rina" a 4-year-old 150-pound Great Dane, and the trauma caused her to miscarry her puppies. She is in pain while she recovers at the East Nepessing Street home of Mark and Debra Parker. The shot entered her body through her right ear and traveled through her right side, into her rib cage, through her toes then exited out her right paw.

"She was saved and that's main thing. She's a part of our family," said Debra. "I'm just really upset; this really makes me so sad. The vet said there's nothing that can be done."

The accused, 59, of Lapeer, told Lapeer City police he was confronted by the dog and shot her with his firearm to protect himself. He has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, and the handgun was registered in 1991 by him in Rochester, said Lapeer City Police Lt. David Frisch.

Mark describes his dog as very gentle and doubts the validity of his neighbor's explanation.

"He didn't even tell me he shot my dog," said Mark. "He was standing there holding a cup of coffee. How do you hold a cup of coffee if you were attacked by a dog?"

Problems began about 7 a.m. when Mark let his four dogs, all are registered and have shots, out into his fenced backyard to go to the bathroom. A short time later he heard barking and realized the sounds weren't coming from the rear of his house. Though he was certain the fence was latched, somehow the four dogs got out.

One dog remained in the yard, and two others were at the front door, waiting to be let inside. Mark left in search of Rena and came across his neighbor. The man allegedly cursed at him loudly and told him he'd better take care of his dog. After the verbal confrontation, Mark saw Rena.

"She crawled toward me, like she did something wrong," said Mark. "He never even told me he shot her."

Once inside, Mark and Debra realized she was injured and rushed her to the veterinarian. Rena is expected to recover, but is in pain.

"She is my baby, and such a special dog," said Debra. "It shattered her foot and blew her knuckles out. Her toes were almost taken off. She's having muscle spasms and has been laying here all day."

"This happened right in my front yard," Mark said. "It's pretty scary when you have to take a 9 mm gun with you for a walk in Lapeer in the morning. We just want him off the street."

A warrant request has been sent to the Lapeer County Prosecutor's Office for felony animal cruelty and reckless use of a firearm in the city.

"There were witnesses to the incident and their versions lead us to seek charges," Frisch said.

A person that has a concealed weapon permit is licensed to carry a loaded gun, but must follow specific rules, said Frisch.

"To get a permit you have to attend a training class, and in that class it's all covered," Frisch said. "You need to make sure you have a good understanding. If you don't, you need to ask questions."

References

• « MI State Animal Cruelty Map

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