Dog shot with bow and arrow
Bigfork, MT (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Dec 31, 2005
County: Flathead
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Jonathan C Pilling
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
On December 31, 2006, Phyllis Russell was resting at home when the howls of a wounded animal made her run out to investigate. To her horror she discovered the sounds coming from her own dog, Thor, who crawled home with an arrow stuck in his abdomen.
John Pilling, a resident living a few houses from her on Alpine Drive in the Echo Lake area, shot the dog with a bow and arrow for crossing his yard.
"I've never seen anything so cruel in my life. That dog screamed and screamed--it was awful," Russell said. "He had an arrow bigger than a dime sticking out of his right side. This guy has threatened other neighbors saying he would shoot any animal who walked through his yard, but I never thought he would do something like this. I then called the police because I wasn't going to let this go, not only did he shoot my dog with a bow and arrow, but a person with a weapon like that is a threat to the neighborhood."
Thor, a 2-year old mix breed, suffered major trauma to one of the kidneys, ripped intestines and the arrow was logged in his back. The dog was immediately taken to the North Shore Veterinary Clinic where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the damage and is now expected to survive the ordeal with careful monitoring by its owner.
Russell was cited with a dog-at-large charge and Pilling was cited with cruelty to animals.
"In a way being cited with a dog-at-large is adding insult to injury, particularly since the vet's bill is over $1,000," Russell said. "But I understand the shooter is facing a larger charge and by us getting this citation I know we are protected and it will help us gain justice in the end." Officer Jordan White, with the Flathead County Sheriff's department, lives in the neighborhood and was contacted to investigate the trouble, but he could not cite anyone or become involved because he lives in the neighborhood and it's against the department to follow through, so the case was transfered to Officer Rod Vestry who charged both parties. Thor got lucky this time and is expected to fully recover.
Case Updates| On January 18, 2006, Pilling entered a nolo contendere plea for first degree cruelty to animals. He was fined $585. | | Update posted on Apr 11, 2006 - 2:52AM |
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