Family grieving after beagle shot by neighbor

KITTS HILL — A family is mourning the loss of their 1-year-old beagle after they say a neighbor brutally shot and killed it.

Missy Hern heard the shots Saturday morning as she was getting ready to leave for work.

“I had been to start my car to leave for work,” Hern said. “I heard two shots.”

Hern, who lives on the 1100 block of Township Road 266 in Kitts Hill, went outside and heard her neighbor say one of their other neighbors, a 17-year-old boy, had shot her 8-year-old son’s dog, Pup.

“He was yelled at by my neighbor and his uncle,” Hern said. “I ran up on the hill and he shot two more times. After being told to stop, he still continued.”

Hern said Pup was shot twice in his hip area and once in one of his paws. Pup died about 20 minutes later, she said.

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident and confiscated the 22-caliber rifle.

According to the sheriff’s report, Hern’s neighbor and a Hecla Water employee witnessed the shooting.

Another witness alleged he and the juvenile suspect were inside when they heard the juvenile’s own dog, Lady, barking in distress.

“They went outside and observed a dog was attacking her (Lady), according to the report. (Juvenile) got a gun and shot the dog and wounded it. (Juvenile) didn’t want the dog to suffer so he shot the dog again.”

Hern contended Pup wasn’t attacking another dog and no other witnesses described that scenario for law enforcement.

“It’s just shocking and we’re all taking it hard,” Hern said, of her three children, especially her son, Landon. “That was his dog. She would walk him to the bus in the morning. She would come back and wait. He’s heartbroken.”

Hern said she also fears for the safety of her other two dogs and her children.

“We live on a dead end road,” she said. “My kids and my neighbor’s kids all play outside when it’s warm weather. What if my kids would have been running with the dog? The dog was nowhere near his property.”

The sheriff’s office did not file charges against the juvenile but the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

Hern said she just wants justice for Pup.

“I don’t think he should just get a slap on the hand because he’s 17,” Hern said. “I want him to pay for what he’s done. I just want justice.”