Dog shot twice in the head, found alive - Clover, VA

Friday, Oct 1, 2010

County: Halifax

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: John Davis Nichols

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A dog was shot twice in the head and left to die in a ditch in Halifax County. After four long days, his owner found him alive.

Charlotte Long looked everywhere for her dog Wrinkles. She says finally, one of her neighbors told her he'd shot the dog, because it was being aggressive.

"It took a cruel person to do this to him, a really cruel person," she said. "He was shot right here and right here."

Long told her neighbor she wanted her dog back, so she could bury him on her property. Her son, Justin Wilburn, couldn't believe Wrinkles was still alive.

"You just don't see a dog or any kind of human being or animal living being shot in the head twice," said Wilburn.

Animal Warden Todd Moser says he didn't think the dog would be able to walk again.

"It was just laying there looking up it couldn't move it was basically paralyzed and you just wonder why somebody would do something like that to an animal," said Moser.

When Long took Wrinkles to the vet, they wanted to put him down. She asked them to wait just one more day.

"I didn't want him to die, but I didn't want him to suffer either, so I had to make up my mind of what I wanted to do, so finally I decided to put him down," she said.

On her way to the vet, she says she got a phone call, saying Wrinkles was ready to come home. She says it's unbelievable to see how Wrinkles continues to beat the odds.

"I just freaked out. I says you got to be kidding. I was crying. I said that fast, that fast he healed up?" she said. "He was determined to get home to us. he fought he fought really hard."

Animal Control officials say Long has been cited for no tags and no shots. They're still investigating to see whether there will be any charges.

Case Updates

John Davis Nichols, 19, of Clover was convicted Monday in Halifax County General District Court of a misdemeanor charge for animal cruelty. The court found Nichols not guilty of another charge for "depriving an animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary treatment or cause such deprivation." The court sentenced Nichols to a 10-day suspended jail term, conditioned on his good behavior for 12 months and payment of $237 restitution to Charlotte Long. The court additionally ordered Nichols to pay a $1,000 fine, with $500 suspended, and to perform 100 hours of community service in an animal benefit program.

Source: gazettevirginian.com - Dec 22, 2010 Update posted on Dec 22, 2010 - 11:13AM

References

• wset.com - Nov 1, 2010

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