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Pet Pomeranian had to be euthanized after
many surgeries couldn't heal bullet wounds
BY NATHAN C. GONZALEZ
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Multiple surgeries and nine days of recovery
couldn't save the Pahl family's Pomeranian,
allegedly shot by their neighbor on Sept. 10.
West Valley City police arrested Gary Deloy
Griffiths, 60, that same day for pointing a .22-
caliber rifle at Ryan Pahl and threatening to
shoot him. Pahl had confronted Griffiths about
shooting his 7-pound dog, "Ozzie," in front of his
3-year-old daughter, said Sgt. Bill Merritt.
"The dog's owner was eating lunch in his
home when he hears a couple of loud popping
noises and a dog whining." Merritt said.
Pahl walked outside and hopped the wooden
fence separating the abutting properties.
He found the dog alive, but seriously
wounded.
Griffiths then pointed the gun at Pahl
warning him to "be careful or you could be
next," Merritt said.
While en route to a veterinarian, Pahl called
police. As did Griffiths, who told investigators
he shot the dog because it attacked his cat.
However, as police began their investigation
they learned that Griffiths was alleged to have
removed sections of the fence to coax the small
dog into his yard.
"(Pahl) said there were piles of dog food
leading from the fence into the yard," Merritt
said. "He thinks that's how he got through the
fence."
Griffiths refused to comment when contacted
at home Friday. |
Police arrested Griffiths and booked him into
the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of
discharging a firearm within city limits, a third-
degree felony; aggravated assault, a third-
degree; and reckless endangerment, a class
A misdemeanor.
Police added a misdemeanor charge of
animal cruelty against Griffiths after the dog
had been euthanized Thursday.
If convicted on all charges, he faces a
maximum of 12 years in prison.
The shooting prompted outcries from
animal activists, such as The Humane Society
of Utah and the Utah Animal Adoption Center,
which are calling for lawmakers to strengthen
the state's animal cruelty laws.
"This is a bigger issue than just animal
cruelty." said Gene Baierschmidt, director
of the Humane Society. "Studies have shown
there is a direct connection between animal
cruelty and violence against people."
Currently, animal cruelty is a class A
misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in
jail. Cheryl Smith, director of the Adoption
Center, said the crime should be a classified
a felony.
"We are hopeful that if this case does
nothing else, it serves to convince legislators
that we need a felony animal cruelty charge
in this state," Smith said.
"For a crime of violence, they should be
charged with harsher crimes," she said.
"This was an act of rage. Certainly a 7-pound
dog was no threat to this man."
Police advise people to talk with their
neighbors before tensions and bullets fly.
"I'd encourage people to work disputes
out before they get infuriated and it gets to
this point," Merritt said. "You have got to pick
your battles." |