Man charged after shooting, killing neighbor's dog

Posted at: 11/04/2009 6:44 PM | Updated at: 11/05/2009 3:07 PM
By: Joe Bartels, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

According to a police report, one of the dogs charged at officers who responded the first time.

An Artesia man faces animal cruelty charges after shooting and killing his neighbor's pitt bull after the dog kept getting loose and coming into his yard.

Artesia police arrested Jason Shirey Tuesday after he says he shot and killed a neighbor's pit bull in September when it came after him.

Shirey says he doesn't understand why police are pressing the issue now.

"I don't understand this," Shirey said. "I don't understand why I'm being charged. The dog was charging at me. I had no other recourse than to protect myself."

Jason Shirey was arrested Tuesday morning by Artesia police and charged with animal cruelty and using a deadly weapon.

"She asked me how I pled and I pled not guilty to the charges," Shirey said.

Shirey says he grabbed his shotgun in order to defend his 4-year-old daughter and his two dogs when two neighborhood pit bulls ended up in his yard several times in a matter of days.

"And I want to know why those dogs were released back to him after the dog catcher and the officer said how vicious they were. Not once, not twice, the female was over here for a third time," Shirey said.

According to a police report, one of the dogs charged at officers who responded the first time.

Eloy Reza, the pit bulls' owner, says his dogs are harmless, and Shirey's reaction didn't come in the heat of the moment.

Reza said, "The guy pretty much threatened me— he knew basically, exactly what he was going to do the next time my dogs got into his yard."

Shirey says the charges don't make sense—he was on his property, trying to protect his family and pets.

Shirey said, "I can't afford this, and my family will suffer because of it… if I have to go to jail."

According to the criminal complaint filed by police, there was no immediate threat to Shirey, his family, or his dogs when he went outside with his gun.

Shirey is due back in court next week.

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