Dog shot to death
Grover, NC (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 19, 2011
County: Cleveland
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Richard Doyle Horton
Animal control officers have charged a Grover man with shooting and killing a Labrador retriever.
Richard Doyle Horton, 62, of the 100 block of Steer Street, killed a black Lab at his home on April 19, according to a misde-meanor criminal summons. Horton is charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
The dog belonged to a man who lives on Bethlehem Church Road outside Kings Mountain, said Sam Lockridge, Cleveland County health services coordinator and animal control administrator. He said Horton told Cleveland County Animal Control he shot the dog because it and another black Lab were attacking cats.
"That's not been found to be true," Lockridge said, adding that no dead or injured cats were found in the area.
Horton shot the dog with a .22-caliber rifle, Lockridge said. The dog's owner called Cleveland County Communications, and sheriff's deputies dispatched to the Grover home turned the investigation over to Animal Control.
"In Cleveland County, we just will not tolerate people being cruel to animals for any reason," Lockridge said. "If he is accusing these animals of attacking other animals, he could simply have called Animal Control to investigate."
Lockridge said county residents who are in disputes with their neighbors over animals should try to resolve the problem with a cordial visit. If problems persist, residents are encouraged to call Cleveland County Animal Control at 704-481-9884.
A summons charging Horton with animal cruelty was issued April 21. He is scheduled to appear in Cleveland County District Court on May 13. References |
