Dog shot in the head Canton, GA (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 County: Cherokee Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Case Images: 1 files available Alleged: Berry Lynn Moates Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 4703 Classification: Shooting Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in GA (US) Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior Login to Watch this Case

A dog belonging to a man in Canton, Georgia, miraculously survived after being shot three times in the head.

The dogs owner, stated he noticed his dog, a Husky named Normal, missing after the family returned home from an out-of-town trip. The family searched the woods and the neighborhood, but found nothing, and went to bed. He was awaken later in the evening to a barrage of gun shots.

He went to the woods again and searched. he found his dog tied, shot, and still bleeding.

The dogs owner saw at least two bullet wounds.  And It looked like his nose was blown clean off, he stated.

At a nearby veterinary hospital, they found more damage. One of the shots had taken out part of his skull. Normal suffered at least three shots to the head by someone intent on killing him. "I think what happened was the dog was knocked unconscious from the shot to the head. [The shooter] went to finish him off, and the shot went through the nose and that bullet lodged in his head," said veterinarian Dr. Walton Waller.

Despite the damage, Normal is expected to recover. The veterinarian had to rebuild parts of the dog's skull, using more than 50 stitches and staples to close the incisions and wounds.

Moates is a convicted felon and is currently in the Cherokee County (GA) jail on probation revocation and waiting for trial in this case.  He is charged with felony cruelty to animals, possession of firearm by convicted felon, and discharging firearm on another's property.

Moates reportedly claimed that the dog was acting aggressively, which is the reason he shot it.

He is being defended by attorney Ross Grisham.

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KXTV - May 31, 2005

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