Dog shot and killed by neighbor Carbondale, CO (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 19, 1999 County: Garfield Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Ted Coffman

Case ID: 3560 Classification: Shooting Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in CO (US) Animal was offleash or loose Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior Login to Watch this Case

Ted Coffman was found guilty of cruelty to animals, but acquitted of a weapons charge in the shooting of a neighbor's dog on Aug 19, 1999.

Coffman claimed he shot his former neighbor's dog in self defense. He did not take the stand in the two day trial in Pitkin County Court.

The six person jury did not believe that Coffman was in imminent danger with reason to believe that less force would be inadequate when he killed, Xena, the 16-month old Rottweiler. The jury did acquit him on the charge of prohibited use of a weapon.

Before the shooting, the Coffman family had complained to the Tanis family, Xena's owners, and the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office about the dog wandering onto the Coffman property. The dog allegedly chased Coffman and his young son.

The Assistant District Attorney Lawson Wills appears to have convinced the jury that Coffman had less drastic options he could have pursued before killing the dog.

Police reports stated: Coffman told authorities Xena was about 20 feet from his front porch when he opened his door last Aug 19. The dog turned her head toward the house, tensed her legs as in attack mode but did not move from her position when Coffman opened the door. Coffman said two or three seconds elapsed from the time he opened the door until he fired the first of two shots at the dog with a shotgun.

Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

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References

The Aspen Times - June 26, 2000

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