A 67-year-old Virginia man is facing animal cruelty and firearm charges after he allegedly gunned down his neighbor’s service dog for no apparent motive.
Louis E. Davis Jr. is being held without bond, accused of shooting Bear, his neighbor’s husky, on Friday morning according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
The 27-year-old owner called 911 after his service dog was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the spine at a local animal hospital.
Police said that the dog was shot on the road near his owner’s Mormon Gap Road. It did not appear to have approached Davis or his property.
“The dog did escape,” ACSO Lt. Leslie Snyder said. “so if the dog was threatening him, his family or his animals, then the shooting would be more justified.”
Snyder then added that “killing a service animal is a serious matter.”
