- Nebraska, USA -
This story has been updated after the Sheriff’s Office has kindly provided me with additional information.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 58-year-old BRIAN L. EGLEY (pictured below), accused of shooting his dog with a .22 caliber handgun in a soybean field and driving away.
According to the affidavit, on the evening of September 26, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a dog who had been shot.
A deputy responded to S. Sixth Avenue and A Street, South of Union, where individuals who were fishing had heard a single gunshot followed by a dog yelping.
After that, a flatbed pickup truck quickly drove off.
Thankfully, the witnesses were able to chase after the vehicle and managed to get its license number.
They also found the furbaby, believed to be an Australian Heeler, in the bean field who had been shot in the face. The dog was still alive and had labored breathing.
The Sheriff’s Office tells me that “the dog was put down by the deputy.”
It’s unclear why the furbaby was not taken to a veterinary clinic.
The vehicle was registered to EGLEY and he was questioned at his residence on the same day.
EGLEY first denied shooting his dog but after he was told how the dog suffered, he admitted to the shooting.
EGLEY said he was overwhelmed with his son who had been involved in an accident and was being released from the hospital.
He said that his only option was to put his dog down and stated he loved dogs and animals, and he did not intend for the dog to suffer.
Fremont Tribune reports that deputies told EGLEY he could have taken his dog to an animal shelter, a veterinarian, or an animal refuge facility.
Reportedly, EGLEY said he did not know he could contact these places.
The investigative reports were then submitted to the county attorney’s office, and a felony arrest warrant was issued on November 3.
BRIAN L. EGLEY was finally arrested on the evening of Saturday, November 28, and was booked into the Cass County Jail on one count of intentional cruelty to animal, which is a Class 3A felony.
EGLEY walked after posting a $10,000 PR bond after his arraignment on Monday, January 30.
He is expected in court for a preliminary hearing on January 12, 2021.
It’s the year 2020 and I refuse to believe that there are still people out there who are not aware that there are HUMANE OPTIONS for ‘unwanted animals’!!!
