Sunday was not a good day for me and my wife, Sandy.
I had run into Patterson, some six miles from the house, to get some items for her. In the 12 minutes I was gone and en route back to our dwelling, I received a phone call that just broke my heart.
Sandy and our grandson, Anson, had walked the property line hunting for a rabbit or squirrel for our grandchild to shoot at with the Ryder BB gun in his possession.
It’s the lone weapon we have. I’ve never owned a gun, but have fired a few rounds to qualify during training to become a correctional officer. I’ve shot a shotgun a time ore two.
While the grandmother and grandson, who is eight, were out and about, they noticed our two-year-old miniature beagle prancing around on the hunt.
We had two dogs and both wore collars which would shock them when they got near the edge of the boundary zone. It’s only when the battery dies will “Copper” get a wild hair to explore.
Meanwhile, there is a pack of dogs, approximately 13, who wonder through what was once a quite neighborhood. If they came into our yard, “Copper” would bellow with a loud bark to try and scare them off.
That was also how he let us know we had company.
Anyway, while walking and “hunting” with Anson, Sandy tried to get “Copper’s” attention so she could change the battery. About five minutes after sitting on the back porch, she heard two load gun shots.
“Copper” somehow made it to near where Sandy was sitting on the porch pouring blood from a wound. He had been shot just behind his nose on the right side with the projectile shattering his left jaw as it exited.
The culprit, our neighbors of less than six months 18-year-old son. He had grabbed his dad’s AR15, walked out the back porch and fired two shots at our family pet.
That’s when I got the phone call. I told Sandy to call 9-1-1 and get a Pierce County deputy on site.
He made it in about 15 minutes, took a look at the blood that had dripped along the walk around the pool. He took one look at our suffering pet. He was not very happy with the scene.
I have pressed charges in the case — Cruelty to Animals and Reckless Discharge of a Weapon for firing shots in our sub-division. I didn’t want to permanently ruin the kids life with felony charges ... I opted for misdemeanor charges.
I’m just thankful he didn’t take aim while Sandy and the grandson were out there striking them instead of the dog. I would have been behind bars if that had happened.
What made matters worse is that he nor his parents even walked over to apologize.
To take it one step farther, the deputy said he was told by the family a now ex-Pierce County deputy told them they could shoot to kill dogs wandering on their property.
Our deputy told them that’s one of the reasons he’s no longer employed stating, “you can’t do that. It is against the law. You call the owner or the sheriff’s department and let us handle it.”
We’re going to be pushing for a Leash Law in Pierce County so families don’t have to experience what we went through.
Two years of enjoyment for Sandy and the grandchildren with “Copper” is now gone because of a teenager thinking he can do whatever he wants without consequences.
You came out with the intent of shooting and killing even stating to the deputy his barking was bothering you.
That really set me off. I’ll get the last say in this saga.
• Rick Head is the Publisher and Editor of The Brantley Beacon and the Waycross Journal-Herald. He can be reached at [email protected]
