A Virginia man’s service canine was killed by his neighbor, who has been charged with homicide, in accordance with the native sheriff’s workplace.
Louis E. Davis Jr., 67, of Waynesboro, Va., was arrested Saturday on prices of felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor reckless dealing with of a firearm, in accordance with a launch Monday by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Workplace (ACSO).
ACSO Lt. Leslie Snyder mentioned Newsweek In a cellphone interview Monday night, Bear, a husky, mentioned he escaped from his proprietor’s fenced yard and was shot Friday morning. It was not recognized at press time whether or not Davis knew the canine’s proprietor or had earlier points with the service canine.
Augusta County Sheriff’s Workplace
A 27-year-old man from Augusta County referred to as 911 shortly after 8 a.m. from Waynesboro Animal Hospital to report Bear had been shot, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned within the launch.
The bear’s proprietor, whose identification has not been revealed, instructed authorities he heard a gunshot outdoors earlier than “listening to an animal screaming.” The proprietor mentioned when he went outdoors, he seen the husky was not within the fenced space the place he left the canine. He mentioned he discovered his service canine on the highway close to his dwelling on Mormon Hole Highway in Waynesboro. Bear suffered a gunshot wound to the backbone and was pronounced useless upon arrival on the animal hospital, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
Snyder mentioned Newsweek There are particular legal guidelines that present further protections for service animals however she mentioned she couldn’t present additional particulars at press time because of the ongoing investigation.
She mentioned that though Bear was a service canine, the incident would have been “extra excusable” if the husky had attacked or threatened Davis. Snyder mentioned the Sheriff’s Workplace continues to be investigating the capturing and was unable to share a motive or extra particulars as of Monday evening.
“The canine had already escaped, so if the canine was threatening him or his household or his animals, capturing could be extra justified,” Snyder mentioned, including that “killing a service animal is a severe matter.”
A big-caliber handgun believed to have been used within the capturing was discovered and deputies seized it, a police assertion mentioned.
Davis was transported to Center River Regional Jail in Verona, the place he’s being held with out bail. On-line jail data don’t embrace an legal professional who can communicate on his behalf.