Timothy DeVargas

Man arrested after shooting neighbor’s dog

Irvington, AL

July 7, 2006

Timothy DeVargas, 41, of Irvington, was arrested on a warrant charging him with cruelty to animals for the fatal shooting of his neighbor’s miniature dachshund when it wandered into his yard.  He surrendered to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday evening, July 11^th.  He was released after posting a $750 bond.

8-year old Shadow was shot Friday night after being let out of the home to relieve himself, by his owner, Phyllis Friedrich.  Friedrich stated she would often let Shadow out without a leash and that he usually wandered next door along DeVargas’ fence to relieve himself.  In five years, she never received a complaint from DeVargas.

Friedrich stated that on Friday evening Shadow was outside while she was sitting on her front steps talking on the phone when four or five gunshots rang out.  After hearing an additional four or five more shots, she saw Shadow walking slowly across the yard where he collapsed on the ground. Upon checking him she saw the blood.  He had been shot in the abdomen under his back leg and died later that night at a local vet’s office.

Under Alabama law, cruelty to animals is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.

Reference:

The Birmingham News