Dog fatally shot for jumping on, licking guardian
Saint Petersburg, FL (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 19, 2006
County: Pinellas
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Thomas John Costello
A man fatally shot one of the family dogs with a .45 caliber gun January 19, 2006, because the animal wouldn't stop jumping on his lap and licking his face, according to St. Petersburg police.
Thomas Costello, 52, an unemployed registered nurse, was arrested on a charge of animal cruelty at his home at 5438 Bayou Grande Blvd. N.E., according to police and jail records. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail on $5,000 bail, a jail spokeswoman said. Costello's wife called police, saying her husband shot the 3-year-old corgi, one of the couple's five dogs, in the head, said Sgt. Katy Connor-Dubina of the domestic violence unit. Costello's wife waited a couple of hours before contacting authorities about 2:15 a.m., Connor-Dubina said. She was afraid because her husband had said he was going to commit suicide after he shot the dog, she said.
Her husband has had mental health problems and had been taken into custody at least once for psychiatric evaluation under the state's Baker Act, Connor-Dubina said. Costello had been drinking late on January 18, 2006, Connor-Dubina said References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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