Yaroslavl Shooting: Man Claims Self-Defense After Fatally Shooting Dog on Property
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A contentious case involving the shooting of a dog has ignited debate in the Yaroslavl region of Russia. The incident, which occurred on November 15 at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Molodezhnaya Street in the village of Iskra Oktyabrya, Rybinsk District, centers around a man who claims he acted in self-defense after a dog repeatedly threatened his family.
The dog, reportedly a Caucasian Shepherd, died after sustaining a gunshot wound while attempting to get under a fence separating properties. The animal suffered for over thirty minutes before succumbing to its injuries, sparking outrage online and prompting an investigation by local authorities.
Dispute Over Territory and Prior Attacks
The man involved, a legal gun owner with the necessary permits and medical clearances, explained his actions in an interview with Rybinsk-40 TV channel. He stated he repeatedly warned the dog’s owner to secure the animal, particularly when his grandchildren were present. “I heard a dog growling at the fence,” he recounted. “I said through the fence – remove the dog, I’m with the children, maybe he’ll get out. There was no reaction.”
He described a escalating situation where the dog persistently attempted to breach the fence, eventually extending its head fully onto his property. “And when the dog stuck his head all the way out and became…it… I fired a shot,” he said. “I feel sorry for the dog, I feel sorry for him. There was no other option to protect myself and my grandchildren.” He emphasized the difficulty of controlling a large breed like a Caucasian Shepherd without lethal force, stating, “Stopping a Caucasian Shepherd is not a mongrel, you can’t stop it with a shovel, you can’t stop it with a stick, there was no other way out.”
Adding another layer to the dispute, the man presented evidence – a video – of a previous incident where the same dog fatally attacked his cat. “This cat was sitting on a table in the garage, waiting for her owners,” he explained. “This ‘affectionate and kind’ Dana ran into the garage and simply tore my cat to shreds.”
Community Divided, Investigation Underway
The incident has sharply divided the local community. While some residents have voiced support for the man, citing prior aggressive behavior from the dog, others have condemned his actions as excessive and cruel. Social media platforms have been flooded with calls for justice, demanding punishment for the individual who discharged a firearm in a residential area.
However, several local residents have come forward to corroborate the man’s claims, reporting that the dog had previously attacked them.
Law enforcement officials have seized the man’s firearm and transferred the case to the Investigative Committee for further review. The committee will determine whether the man’s actions were justified under the circumstances, and whether any criminal charges are warranted. The outcome of the investigation will likely set a precedent for similar cases involving property disputes and animal control in the region.
