What happened to Shiloh?
On August 6th, 2024, Shiloh was playing in the front yard with me and a few of her siblings. I was unloading donation boxes and unknown to me, Shiloh left my property and followed our dog sledding route down the road. She came across my neighbors free ranging chickens and ducks. (I am aware what Shiloh did was wrong, and I offered to compensate the male and female that live at that residence which was declined)
While I was inside my home kenneling my dogs to take after Shiloh, a grey vehicle that is owned by that residence showed up at my home and I knew then which house Shiloh had went to. They left without attempting to speak with me.
When I arrived to their home, Shiloh was not there. The male was just then returning with her in his side by side claiming her life was taken by being hit by a car.
I said my apologies to him and her and left with Shiloh.
When I arrived home. I recalled my friend, who lived 2 houses down from this man that he threatened to shoot her dogs and she warned me to be cautious of him. It was then I looked and found the bullet hole to Shilohs left base of her head.
I then drove back to the mans home and confronted him. He then changed his story, stating Shiloh was hit by a young driver in a silver Honda who was driving too fast on this street with a 15mph speed zone. He stated she suffered a broken back and he had to end her suffering.
Knowing that wasn’t right, I drove her body to Central Lake, MI police where I waited for a Sheriff deputy to arrive.
He took my statement and called the local Animal Control Officer who stated that was illegal to shoot her on a public road. Law states he can on his property, but not on a public road despite what she had done. I was also to drive Shiloh to the local vet at Traverse City’s Bay Area Pet Hospital where a necropsy was to be performed.
The man was arrested and posted bail the next day.
I was informed I would have copy of the necropsy that night. Come 3-4am, I did not and called. I was informed then that Shiloh had no visual external signs of being hit by a car. She had no road rash, no long bone fractures, and no wounds aside from his bullet wound to her head.
Shiloh had been placed in a freezer in a curved spinal position for 8 hours before spinal x-rays were taken of the lumbar and thoracic regions.
It showed slight displacement of L1, but no broken bones to her spine. There was a significant amount of Subcutaneous emphysema from being placed in the freezer or trauma. There is no definitive answer due to her length of time in the freezer prior to spinal x-rays.
Prosecutor James Rossiter of Antrim County will not pursue charges due to the necropsy not showing 100% proof that she was not hit by a car. The vet that performed the necropsy informed him, she would have needed an MRI to prove she was not hit by a car. That information was not provided to me prior to having her cremated.
It is against the law to shoot a dog even if you think you are saving it from suffering. It was my decision for the medical treatment Shiloh should have received that day and he took that from Shiloh as well as me. Instead Shiloh suffered a gunshot within 12 inches of her head, shattering her spine and skull from his bullet. My only remembrance of Shiloh is her collar with his bullet hole through it. Shiloh did not deserve that.
Shiloh was my lead dog and ambassador from SCMR. It was an accident she left my property that day, but his action was INTENTIONAL.
KILLING AN ANIMAL IS A FELONY
On August 6th, 2024, Shiloh was playing in the front yard with me and a few of her siblings. I was unloading donation boxes and unknown to me, Shiloh left my property and followed our dog sledding route down the road. She came across my neighbors free ranging chickens and ducks. (I am aware what Shiloh did was wrong, and I offered to compensate the male and female that live at that residence which was declined)
While I was inside my home kenneling my dogs to take after Shiloh, a grey vehicle that is owned by that residence showed up at my home and I knew then which house Shiloh had went to. They left without attempting to speak with me.
When I arrived to their home, Shiloh was not there. The male was just then returning with her in his side by side claiming her life was taken by being hit by a car.
I said my apologies to him and her and left with Shiloh.
When I arrived home. I recalled my friend, who lived 2 houses down from this man that he threatened to shoot her dogs and she warned me to be cautious of him. It was then I looked and found the bullet hole to Shilohs left base of her head.
I then drove back to the mans home and confronted him. He then changed his story, stating Shiloh was hit by a young driver in a silver Honda who was driving too fast on this street with a 15mph speed zone. He stated she suffered a broken back and he had to end her suffering.
Knowing that wasn’t right, I drove her body to Central Lake, MI police where I waited for a Sheriff deputy to arrive.
He took my statement and called the local Animal Control Officer who stated that was illegal to shoot her on a public road. Law states he can on his property, but not on a public road despite what she had done. I was also to drive Shiloh to the local vet at Traverse City’s Bay Area Pet Hospital where a necropsy was to be performed.
The man was arrested and posted bail the next day.
I was informed I would have copy of the necropsy that night. Come 3-4am, I did not and called. I was informed then that Shiloh had no visual external signs of being hit by a car. She had no road rash, no long bone fractures, and no wounds aside from his bullet wound to her head.
Shiloh had been placed in a freezer in a curved spinal position for 8 hours before spinal x-rays were taken of the lumbar and thoracic regions.
It showed slight displacement of L1, but no broken bones to her spine. There was a significant amount of Subcutaneous emphysema from being placed in the freezer or trauma. There is no definitive answer due to her length of time in the freezer prior to spinal x-rays.
Prosecutor James Rossiter of Antrim County will not pursue charges due to the necropsy not showing 100% proof that she was not hit by a car. The vet that performed the necropsy informed him, she would have needed an MRI to prove she was not hit by a car. That information was not provided to me prior to having her cremated.
It is against the law to shoot a dog even if you think you are saving it from suffering. It was my decision for the medical treatment Shiloh should have received that day and he took that from Shiloh as well as me. Instead Shiloh suffered a gunshot within 12 inches of her head, shattering her spine and skull from his bullet. My only remembrance of Shiloh is her collar with his bullet hole through it. Shiloh did not deserve that.
Shiloh was my lead dog and ambassador from SCMR. It was an accident she left my property that day, but his action was INTENTIONAL.
KILLING AN ANIMAL IS A FELONY
Michigan Law States as Follows:
750.50b Animal and companion animal defined; prohibited acts; violation; penalty; consecutive terms; exceptions.Sec. 50b.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Animal" means a vertebrate other than a human being.
(b) "Companion animal" means an animal that is commonly considered to be, or is considered by its owner to be, a pet, or that is a service animal as that term is defined in section 50a. Companion animal includes, but is not limited to, dogs and cats.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not do any of the following without just cause:
(a) Knowingly kill, torture, mutilate, maim, or disfigure an animal.
(b) Commit a reckless act knowing or having reason to know that the act will cause an animal to be killed, tortured, mutilated, maimed, or disfigured.
(c) Knowingly administer poison to an animal, or knowingly expose an animal to any poisonous substance, with the intent that the substance be taken or swallowed by the animal.
(d) Violate or threaten to violate subdivision (a) or (c) with the intent to cause mental suffering or distress to a person or to exert control over a person.
(3) If the animal is a companion animal and if a person violates subsection (2)(d) and intentionally violates subsection (2)(a) or (c), the person is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the first degree.
(4) If the animal is a companion animal and a person violates subsection (2)(d), or if a person intentionally violates subsection (2)(a) or (c), the person is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the second degree.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4), a person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of killing or torturing animals in the third degree.
(6) Killing or torturing animals in the first degree is a felony punishable by 1 or more of the following:
(a) Imprisonment for not more than 10 years.
(b) A fine of not more than $5,000.00.
(c) Community service for not more than 500 hours.