- Stark County, Ohio, USA -
Stark County Sheriff’s Office deputies finally tracked down and arrested 23-year-old KEVIN JAMES FISHBURN (pictured below), of Massillon.
FISHBURN is accused of shooting in the face his own dog, a 3-year-old black German shepherd named Zeus.
On January 15, Zeus was found bleeding by a passerby near a landfill.
The Good Samaritan took him to the Soehnlen Veterinary Clinic on Beth Avenue SW in Navarre and then split the veterinary medical bill with a co-worker.
Dr. Mike Sparling sedated the furbaby and dressed the wounds.
An x-ray revealed about 10 small bullet fragments in Zeus’s lower jaw.
The clinic then alerted the Sheriff’s Office and told deputies that the pup had sustained a gunshot wound so they launched an investigation.
On their Facebook post the Stark County Sheriff’s Office wrote that they “presented the case to the Canton City Prosecutor's Office where a warrant was issued for FISHBURN’s arrest.
The accused was booked into the Stark County Jail on one count of Prohibitions Concerning Companion Animal (Felony 5).”
FOX 8 reports that according to the police report, FISHBURN took Zeus on a walk on public hunting grounds and when Zeus became aggressive and charged at him, the criminal pulled out his gun and shot the poor pup.
Thinking Zeus had died, FISHBURN removed the collar and ID and left him there.
Thanks to a timely rescue Zeus is alive and is expected to make a full recovery.
Oh, by the way, Zeus has shown no signs of aggressive behavior!
FISHBURN was released after posting a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Canton Municipal Court on January 29 for a preliminary hearing.
The heinous incident remains under investigation by the Stark County Sheriff's Office and they are requesting anyone with information on this case to please contact their office at (330) 430-3800 or the anonymous Crime Tip Line at (330) 451-3937. Thank you!
*Voice For Us believes that not reporting animal cruelty is the same as committing!*
Many thanks to the person who found Zeus and stepped in!
Zeus’ pictures via The Daily Jeff