Two family pets were shot dead on Feb 21 in Baldwin, WI, but local laws may make charges difficult to pursue. Chris and Christine Hinnenkamp's dogs, Daisy and Bo, were found shot to death early in the morning.

  (Photo courtesy of ABC News)  The Hinnenkamp's neighbor admits to shooting the dogs, because he says they were chasing his horses. Wisconsin law states that a property owner can kill a dog if it threatens a person or a domestic animal.

"They were best friends, joined at the hip, so sadly its probably best they went together," says Christine Hinnenkamp.

The neighbor says the dogs were a nuisance. "He had indicated to the officer that the dogs had been at his house and chasing/harassing his horses on at least three prior occasions this month," says Capt. John Shilts of the St. Croix County Sherrif's Department.

The Hinnenkamps say if the dogs wanted to chase horses, they would have just chased their own.

Investigators say one of the dogs was dragged across the road and thrown into a ditch to die.  "After he shot him to drag him across the road, and leave him is just to me so cruel," said Chris Hinnenkamp.

The Hinnenkamps say the dogs are irreplaceable.

Investigators say they now have the rifle used to shoot the dogs.

The complaint will be on the district attorney's desk for possible charges.

Reference:

ABC News