Bristol man who shot neighbor's dog charged with felony animal cruelty

New Hampshire Union Leader ^ | 8-1-12 | Dan Seufert

[AlmaKing]

BRISTOL – A 5-year-old dog is recovering from a gunshot wound above his right eye and a local man is being charged with felony animal cruelty after shooting the dog on its owner's lawn last week, police said.

Michael Nelson, 36, a resident of Pike's Point Road, has been charged with cruelty to animals, a Class B felony punishable by 3½ to 7 years in jail, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, for shooting named Australian shepherd mix named Tucker.

Tucker, who is owned by Michael and Lynne Furey, Pasadena, Md., and who were staying at their summer cottage several houses down from Nelson's home, is recovering from a gunshot wound above the right eye, the bullet left the skull through his right ear and then hit the dog's rear right toe, said Lynne Furey.

The dog is suffering from a neurological problem and has trouble keeping its balance, Furey said. The toe also had to be amputated.

Nelson, who was not reachable for comment, told police that he was acting in self-defense when he shot the dog on the Furey's lawn at about 3:30 p.m. Friday as the Fureys and several friends sat inside their home, according to Detective Sgt. Timothy Woodward.

“He claimed it was self-defense, that the dog had come to his yard and wouldn't stop barking, so he chased the dog to the owner's home and pulled out his gun, and shot the dog in the head,” Woodward said.

Nelson legally owned the gun, a 9 mm pistol, Woodward said. But police charged him with a felony after the investigation showed his actions were not warranted.

“If his life had been threatened or even minimally in danger, it might have been justified,” Woodworth said. “If this was a 100-pound Rottweiler, you might be able to understand it. But this was a 50-55 pound dog. He could have taken any number of other actions.”

The Fureys, who don't know Nelson, said they were sitting with friends at different sides of the house when they heard Tucker barking, and then heard a gunshot, Lynne Furey said.

“My husband came from one side of the house and I came from the other, and we see this man with a gun and our dog is rolling around in a pool of blood,” she said. “Of course we thought he was dying.”

Nelson looked at the Fureys and told them to call the police. “He said, 'I just shot your dog,'” she said. “He said something like, 'he was coming for me so I shot him.'”

The Fureys rushed Tucker to an animal hospital in Plymouth. It was recommended that the dog be taken to a Boston veterinary hospital, where his toe was amputated.

He is still having a neurological disorder as the result of the gunshot wound, but is expected to make a full recovery in the coming months, Lynne Furey said.

The couple is still shocked by the shooting, though. “He followed my dog with a loaded gun to our private property and shot him,” she said.

[CrazyIvan]

Also charged with impersonating an officer.

[brent13a]

Oh, the irony.....

Because each and every of the hundreds of thousands of police officers in the US have killed at least 5 dogs each. In fact, there are probably 250,000 US police officers that have killed like 50 dogs or more. As there are literally thousands of innocent dogs killed each day by thousands of police officers of which all US police have the same views as sagar.
Yes, then of course it is ironic.

[brent13a]

Apparently YOUR property was violating Mr. Nelson's private property...I see the dog owners are from 'out of state'. This is getting to be a real problem for old-time NH residents who have their private property rights violated on a daily basis. NY'ers and Massh*les routinely trespass to go berry picking, camping, shoot off fireworks, or whatever without giving any thought to the fact that they might be on someone's property. There is a simmering anger building...

So....... you're advocating as a first reaction to the trespassing, shooting all of the visitors (whom are bringing out of state money to your community) in the head, as well as their dogs/cats/ferrets/cockatoos?
Better yet, chase them out of your yard then shoot them int heir head on someone else's property as they are fleeing.

[who knows what evil?]

So....... you're advocating as a first reaction to the trespassing, shooting all of the visitors (whom are bringing out of state money to your community) in the head, as well as their dogs/cats/ferrets/cockatoos? Better yet, chase them out of your yard then shoot them int heir head on someone else's property as they are fleeing.

Where the hell did I say that? Where did I ever imply that? People need to respect the property rights of landowners...simple as that. Just because they are 'bringing money to our community', I am to allow them access to my property whenever they deem it necessary? I don't think so.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Hey, only cops can kill 55 lbs dogs! Here is a nice selection of the dangerous killers I found around the web.

[sagar]

“The dog could not have been THAT viscious if he chased it out of the yard.”

The level of viciousness cannot be determined based on the distance and direction traveled by an irrational creature. Dogs pounce and then retreat all the time. And they continue to run when they start running.

Incapacitating the dog might have been necessary, because it might have turned back and attacked the guy.

[stormer]

I have a solution for the guy that would chase a dog back home and try to blow its brains out...

[AlmaKing]

There is serious animosity between NH and MA residents.

I hate it when they come up here. Their behavior on the roads and at the tourist attractions brings the animosity on themselves.

Witness the MA cop who came up here for a minor league game, then got fired for yelling racist slurs in a family environment. Turns out he had a long history of that behavior.

http://newsone.com/2027364/john-perreault-racial-slur-carl-crawford/

MA residents aren’t welcome here, and they know it.

[CodeToad]

Cops kill dogs all the time without punishment, yet, a peasant shoots a dog and the King goes nuts?

[who knows what evil?]

It’s the NY imports in my area...’f’ this and ‘m-f’ that in a LOUD voice so ALL the neighbors can hear...just like back in the ‘city’. They do this in front of their own children, as well...

[ladyjane]

You could always shoot them.

[brent13a]

Where the hell did I say that? Where did I ever imply that?

Your original comments in context with the above story garners that implication. Your comments in context with the shooters actions of the story lead me to deduce that no matter what, you support his decision to kill the "leafer's" dog just because it came onto his property. You then replace the "dog" of the story with Human trespassers, and state there is "simmering anger".

[brent13a]

There is serious animosity between NH and MA residents.

I've heard of the local animosity towards "leafers". But when protecting someone's property rights they shouldn't go straight to shooting someone unless it's absolutely warranted. Police have too and are supposed to follow the "Use of Force" or "Escalation of Force" Pyramid when dealing with threats, I think it would do private citizens well to try to abide by the same common sense:
As in fences and 'no trespassing' signs. Have trespassers arrested. Don't just immediately go straight to deadly force.
I don't let my fellow police officers at my police department go straight to deadly force, I attempt to curtail that with proper training.

[MileHi]

Michael Nelson, 36, a resident of Pike's Point Road, has been charged with cruelty to animals, a Class B felony punishable by 3½ to 7 years in jail,...

Meanwhile, where are we at with the San Antonio cop who left two K9 dogs to die in his vehicle?

[brent13a]

Meanwhile, where are we at with the San Antonio cop who left two K9 dogs to die in his vehicle?

As a police officer I hope there are animal advocate groups in that area that will push for a full investigation and adequate punishment. Whether you look at it as destroyed property or from a humane standpoint the deputy needs to be punished to the fullest. I would expect no less of our PD's K9 officer.

[AlmaKing]

Nobody is advocating going straight to deadly force to solve problems. I didn’t see any poster say that. Expressing frustration is the pastime of FR. But, Freepers don’t take the next step in regards to violence. I just don’t see that.

[brent13a]

Nobody is advocating going straight to deadly force to solve problems. I didn’t see any poster say that.

You may not "see" it, but the implication is vividly there in several of the postings.
If that isn't those posters true feelings they should word their "frustrations" better.

[MileHi]

You won't mind if I don't hold my breath. There are far too many stories of police getting a pass for what would get any “civilian” a long prison term.

[publius911]

Stupid arrogant dog owners give all dog owners a bad name. Letting a dog roam the neighborhood because he's your dog and thus special, causes all sorts of bad karma.

[publius911]

Stupid arrogant dog owners give all dog owners a bad name. Letting a dog roam the neighborhood because he's your dog and thus special, causes all sorts of bad karma.