Dog shooting
Macomb County, MI (US)Incident Date: Sunday, May 31, 1998
County: Macomb
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Timothy Covert
Leniency sought in dog-shooting case. Sentencing delayed for background check. The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and an animal rights investigator recommended the Macomb County man who shot his dog and left it at a construction site be sentenced to communtiy service.
Timothy Covert of Chesterfield Township did not have malicious intent when he tried to end his dog's life.
Covert fought back tears as he told the judge he attempted to end Melvin's suffering from what he thought was a terminal illness. The dog is diabetic. Judge Batchik suspended the sentencing until Covert's background is checked.
The construction worker said he shot the dog in the head at point-blank range, put it in a coffin and took it to the construction site where he works. He returned the following day to bury the animal but saw coworkers around the coffin.
Melvin will be discharged from the Vet Select hospital. He may have permanent blindness, and that's from the gunshot wound, the trauma, and partly from the diabetes. The dog's diabetes has been stabilized and his weight should return.
Had there been evidence of malice, Covert could have been charged with a felony that could have meant two years in prison and a $5,000 fine. References« MI State Animal Cruelty Map
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