ORIGINAL STORY :
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — A tracking dog apparently stepped on a loaded shotgun in his owner’s pickup truck, firing a fatal blast into the man’s thigh during a goose hunt, officials said.
Perry Alvin Price died at a hospital Saturday from severe blood loss shortly after the accident in southeastern Texas.
Investigators said Price was hunting near Stowell, about 100 kilometres east of Houston, when he shot a goose.
Price, 46, then set the gun in the back of his truck and was about to open the tailgate to release his tracking dog when the shotgun fired, investigators said. The blast penetrated the truck’s tailgate before hitting Price.
Paw prints from the dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever named Arthur, were found on the muddy shotgun, Sheriff Joe LaRive said. Daniel Groberg, Price’s hunting partner, said he tried to stop the bleeding with clothing before driving Price to seek help.
“It’s the strangest case that I’ve seen,” LaRive said. “We couldn’t talk to Perry and Groberg was at the front of the truck when he heard the shotgun blast and didn’t see what happened.”
MY ENDING :
Arthur the dog was taken into custody and charged with "MANslaughter" He will be arrainged Friday.
Bail for Arthur is rumoured to be set @ 35,000 bones.
The dog community was in an uproar over this turn of events.
"I never thought he had it in him" said Rover, fellow obedience school graduate, "he was such a good puppy, always happy and quick to obey. I am just stunned"
The suspect has no previous criminal record. The suspect's family was also shocked!
"You just never know what goes on behind closed doors", says Trixie , the suspect's bitch." It all seemed to be going so well. He never said a word to me that things were tense at home. We were to be married next week. I am having his litter. What will I do now? My puppies will be born into a single bitch home! What will become of us?? I will have to stand in a soup bone lineup!! OH THE SHAME! "
The suspect is rumoured to be entering a plea of "Not guilty by reason of flea infestation". This insanity plea has worked well for other canines, but none have been charged with such a major crime. Most pleas like this are in answer to minor charges of "exessive scratching and poor temper". An occasional "snapping" charge is in the books also.
Trial will be set for early March.
