According to officials, Tara Underwood, 34, took her 2-year-old beagle-Lab last week to the garage of her sister's home in Bay Village and shot the dog dead with a 12-gauge shotgun. Underwood apparently told officials that she killed her dog because its barking was bothering neighbors in her apartment complex.
"I loved that dog, and maybe what I did was wrong," Underwood said, sobbing. "I thought it was the right thing at the time." Neighbors said that Underwood is under a great deal of stress following a recent divorce.
Police charged Underwood with one count of cruelty to animals and one count of discharging a firearm. The Animal Protective League said that it will take any animal to avoid situations like this one. Professional dog trainer Melissa Heeter said that there are simple steps you can do to calm a barking dog. "If the dog is inside or crated like in a small laundry room of something like that, you would want to cover the crate with a sheet," Heeter said. "It's like covering a bird cage with a sheet -- they quiet down."
But it's too late for Underwood's dog. "This is grief to her, both for the dog and the marriage," her neighbor said. "Don't judge. Judge not that you be judged." Underwood said that she will face whatever consequences come to her. Police said that there are circumstances adding stress to her life that they hope a judge will consider when her case goes to trial. She could face up to one year in jail if convicted Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
Back to Top References« OH State Animal Cruelty Map
|
