Police arrested a Botsford man on charges of cruelty to animals and illegal discharge of a firearm after he allegedly shot and wounded a medium-size roaming dog that had ventured onto his property on January 12.
Police arrested a Botsford man on charges of cruelty to animals and illegal discharge of a firearm after he allegedly shot and wounded a medium-size roaming dog that had ventured onto his property on January 12.
Police said they lodged the charges against Ronald A. Frate, Jr, 38, of 56 Bear Hills Road because Frate was unjustified in shooting the dog with a .22-caliber rifle.
The male animal, which Frate allegedly shot in the left front leg, is a mixed-breed dog that is part pit bull terrier and part Labrador retriever. The dog was treated for its injuries by a local veterinarian and is recovering from the gunshot wound, police said.
Police said the dog lives at the Jasa residence at 33 Pine Tree Hill Road, a road that intersects with Bear Hills Road.
Police said the roaming mixed-breed dog entered the Frate property at about 5:18 pm and was reportedly intimidating a cat, which climbed up a tree to flee the dog.
Mr Frate did not lodge a complaint with the town animal control officer about the situation, but simply shot the dog, police said.
The dogâs owner, Adreana Jasa, received an infraction ticket for allowing a dog to roam, police said.
After police processed Frateâs arrest, they released him on a written promise to appear in Danbury Superior Court on January 26.