Dog shot to death Leipsic, DE (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 2, 2003 County: Kent Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Cheryl Miller

Case ID: 4175 Classification: Shooting Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in DE (US) Animal was offleash or loose Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior Login to Watch this Case

Cheryl Miller, 24, has been charged by the Kent County SPCA with cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting Chance, a black Labrador-shepherd mix. Mandy Pleasanton's dog was shot and dumped by the side of the road allegedly by another resident of Leipsic. Residents of the waterfront town of Leipsic are angry and very upset. In the town of Leipsic people know each other and they know each other's dogs.

The townspeople helped to search for the dog's body. When the body was found, residents packed a town meeting demanding that something be done.

The Pleasanton family began receiving flowers and sympathy cards.

A few days after Chance was found dead by the side of a road. Delaware State Police and Probation and Parole officers searched the residence of the woman who allegedly shot the dog.

Lt Tim Winstead, Delaware State Police officer said they found marijuana, crack cocaine and two shotguns.

Keith Miller, 38, and his wife, Cheryl Miller, 24, were charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of cocaine and other drug offenses. It was during this time that Cheryl Miller was charged with cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting Chance. Both were released on bail.

Mandy Pleasanton and her former fianc�, Mike Collison, would give the dog Christmas presents. Chance even knew how to open his gifts. Collison used to take Chance to McDonald's for cheeseburgers.

The shooting happened on Jan 2 when Mandy's mother let Chance out in the backyard with his canine buddy, Gunner. The dogs took off running. When the family went to search for the dogs, they found only Gunner.

Neighbors mentioned hearing a gunshot on the westside of town.

Cheryl Miller said she shot the dog because it was attacking a boarder's dog. The boarder, Charles Workman, said he was the one being attacked. Workman said Cheryl Miller came to help him after Gunner and Chance attacked him when he went to get firewood in the backyard.

Workman said, "They were growling and trying to bite at me." He tried to fend them off with a piece of firewood. "After that, the door opened and Cheryl came out with the rifle and shot him," Workman said.

The Pleasantons called the police when they learned their dog had been shot and thrown of the Leipsic River Bridge.

On January 5 the Pleasantons received a call saying a family friend spotted the body of a black dog along Dutch Neck Road and wanted to know if their dog was wearing a Harley-Davidson collar. It was then they knew Chance's body had been found.

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References

Wilmington DE News Journal - Jan 14, 2003

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