An incident resulted in a man shooting and killing two of his neighbor’s dogs late Monday evening in Tippacanoe.
The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office responded to an animal complaint in the 17000 block of Westchester South Rd in Tippecanoe.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies were met by Skyler Striker, who reported that his two dogs had been fatally shot by his neighbor, Steven Walters, 55, of Paisley Rd in Freeport.
Striker recounted the events, leading Deputy Cody Eckstein to a location where he believed one of his dogs was shot. A pool of blood and a shotgun shell were discovered on the roadside.
Walters, on the other hand, attempted to justify his actions by claiming that Striker’s dogs had attacked and killed his chickens. He openly admitted to shooting and killing both dogs on his property, stating that he was protecting his chickens.
The bodies of the two dogs, a German Shepherd and a lab mix, were eventually recovered by Striker.
Currently, no charges have been filed against Walters, although there’s a chance Walters faces charges.
Detective Captain Adam Fisher of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office addressed the situation, acknowledging that individuals have the right to protect themselves and their property from potential harm caused by animals.
He stated, “while we hear of the shooting of a dog, that causes us some immediate concern, but in some cases, it can be justified.”
However, Captain Fisher also expressed his reservations about this incident.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the dogs were not actively causing any damage to Walters’ property at the time of the confrontation. Despite Walters’ claims that the two dogs had attacked and killed his chickens, there is no concrete evidence to substantiate these allegations.
The incident unfolded near the border between Tuscarawas County and Guernsey County, complicating jurisdictional matters. Striker resides in Tuscarawas County, while Walters lives in Guernsey County.
While no charges have been brought forth as of now, it is likely that the situation will evolve as investigations progress.
