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Neighbor defends decision to shoot dog on his property

Posted at 9:18 PM, May 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-16 07:01:58-04
A Bonita Springs man is criticizing his neighbor for shooting his dog that was attacking a cat on his property.
 
"You should have fired a warning shot," Craig Stalls told Curt Williams. "And then you should have let somebody know you injured an animal, not let her lay there and suffer."
 
Williams defended the shooting, saying the dog got into his yard Friday on Butler Drive, and attacked his cat.  "The cat was in the dog's mouth, and I shot the damn thing in the shoulder.  I couldn't go for a head shot, because I would have killed the cat."
 
Williams says he had very little time to even think before pulling the trigger.
 
" I love dogs, this was not a malicious incident.  She has rescued a half dozen dogs in the neighborhood."
 
Stalls doesn't deny Mya, a pit bull-terrier mix snatched his neighbor's cat. But he's surprised, saying almost everyone in the neighborhood, including Williams has fed Mya, and knows she's friendly.
 
After the shooting, Mya limped around the neighborhood.  Stalls was able to find her following a trail of blood near a neighbor's home.
 
He's angry Williams didn't tell him right away he shot his dog.
 
 "I don't understand how someone who knows an animal, knows where the animal resides can do that to an animal, and then leave the animal to die and not let anybody know."
 
But Williams told us he didn't have time.
 
"No, my wife had a hospital appointment and we don't miss those."
 
Stalls says he's started a Gofundme account for Mya, and is taking the dog to Miami tomorrow for extensive surgery.
 
Under Florida law you can shoot a dog if it is causing harm to other animals on your property.