An Appling man was charged with cruelty to animals Thursday after someone saw him shoot a dog with a rifle near Keg Creek Drive in Appling.
The witness told authorities that about 5:30 p.m. he noticed a GMC Envoy stopped on Keg Creek Drive near the boat ramp.
He saw the driver shoot a medium-size brown dog standing near the woods and then continue to drive downroad, according to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
When deputies arrived, they found large pools of blood and a blood trail leading into the woods, where the dog had died.
The owners of the dog, which was wearing a collar, were notified.
John Wesley York, 68, was arrested after deputies found the SUV parked at a nearby residence.
York admitted to shooting the dog. He said the dog was barking at him and trying to jump on the golf car he was towing with his Envoy.
Deputies could smell alcohol on York’s breath, and he told them he made a drink when he got to his home.
York was also charged with discharging a firearm on or near a public road.
He was released from the Columbia County Detention Center on Thursday on a $4,200 bond, according to jail officials.
A real Great White Hunter. Let the dog's owner exact a punishment upon the GWH.
yea, this dog was my friend. Her name was Dee.
Sorry to hear about 'Dee". I'm glad a witness came forward or the owners may never have known what happened. We don't know why the dog was loose but they're was no reason to shoot her. What comes around goes around and I hope the shooter gets the stiffest penalty and the biggest fine. If the shooter did that to an innocent dog,what else is he capable of doing? There are cruel, heartless people in this world and Mr. York has demonstrated that he is one of them. Remember, all dogs go to Heaven . I hope "Dee" got a big bone when she got there.
I am Dee's Mom. Dee was a 10 year old Lab mix with a bad hip. She was our sweet baby girl. I still cannot believe a "neighbor" would take her away from us in such a cruel way. My family and I are heartbroken.
Saying a prayer for you, Dee. Sorry there are individuals in this world who are heartless. I love my dog, too, so I know you must really be hurting. I know Dee is in a happy place now. Sorry she was taken from you too soon.
Thank you for your kindness. Dee will forever be in our hearts.
The "neighbor" must have had a bone to pick with the dog and or owners to do such a dastardly deed but whatever his reason he should be held accountable for shooting the dog not just for firing a gun. Need stiffer laws to protect animals.
The "neighbor" never let it be known to us if he did. We saw him several times a week and never a word to us about the dog.
I can't imagine someone doing this unless he thought he was defending his own life. Did he think he was defending his own life and limb? Or was he just being annoyed and inconvenienced?
Sorry for your lost "Dee's Mom", may you meet your baby on the rainbow bridge one day. To the shooter, kharma is a female dog....
The part about the golf cart is a cowardly excuse to cover his butt. He shot the dog not once, but twice in cold blood as she stood there wagging her tail at him.
Sickening. There is a special punishment for those who are so cruel. It takes a particularly cruel and heartless individual to do such things. But....what goes around...comes around. We'll pet you in heaven, Dee!
It is wrong to shot a dog and glad to see people upset. May we all be just as upset over the killing of unborn babies.
The neighbor could have and should have made a different choice. If the dog was bothering him, he should have told the owners and maybe all of this could have been avoided and Dee's family would still have her. Why can't people make the more compassionate choice more often? Maybe to some people a dog is just a dog. But some like me, a dog is a member of the family.
To twolane: I have the same compassion for humans and animals. We are all God's creatures. My dogs are much nicer than a lot of people I know!
incredibly tactful twolane. never fail to disappoint do you?
School curriculum from early on should ramp up the social skills. If it's that hard to speak to a neighbor as an adult, then their soft skills are lacking and that probably stems from schools focusing on the 3 r's exclusively.
Just an observation too, how awkward things are going to be now in that neck of the woods. Communication , how do they say, the pen is mightier than the sword? In this instance, words would have been much better than a bullet for all involved.
The man was driving a GMC Envoy while towing a golf cart? It would take a large dog to harm him in the cab of a vehicle of that size..
Dee's mom, I know how you feel. Yrs ago an 18 yr old turned our dog loose and chased him out of our yard and shot him. We got him to the vet, and he survived, but had a broken leg and developed arthritis. The boy got away with it, because his family knew people in high places, including the judge. This happened about 1990.I gave up on dogs.
My wife and I have three dogs - Pee Dee, Mattie & Bug - and their constant loving presence is one of the great joys of our life. My heart breaks for Dee's family and rages at the cruelty of the callous creep who killed her.
This is so sad. People who harm animals should be tried on murder charges. Our animals are our children. It would have been no different if he had shot a child in cold blood. What an evil idiot!
My condolences to Dee's family. And also to the shooter's family...it can't be easy.
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