A misdemeanor charge of animal abuse has been filed by Platte County prosecutors against a Weston man accusing of shooting a dog, “causing injury” to the canine. Prosecutors filed the charge on Friday against Duane C. Walsh, 63, of Countryside Lane, Weston. Authorities allege that on Tuesday, July 7 at about 9 a.m. Walsh “discharged a firearm in a plotted subdivision.”
Court papers indicate that Walsh told authorities the dog “was just sitting in his back yard and wouldn’t leave when he went outside, even after yelling at it, so he fired his weapon from his back deck toward the dog.”
Court documents say the dog was struck in the rear hip area, according to the dog owner, Beth Mallonee. Court documents do not list the extent of the dog’s injuries or what type of weapon was used.
The statement of probable cause signed by Deputy Rick P. Scott says Walsh “at no time indicated in his statement that the dog was posing an immediate threat to him or his property. Mr. Walsh showed no regard to his location or the safety of another person or property around him in a plotted subdivision when discharging his firearm, thus causing the witness to fear for her life and stay in her vehicle until Mr. Walsh went back in his home.”
A court hearing for Walsh is set for Aug. 25 in front of Judge Dennis Eckold in Platte County Circuit Court.