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2 Charged In Separate Stray Animal Shootings

Hillsborough County Animal Services

A Valrico man shot a basset hound with a .22-caliber rifle Sunday, according to Hillsborough County Animal Services.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 20, 2008

Updated: 10/20/2008 01:10 pm

A Valrico man shot a basset hound with a .22-caliber rifle Sunday, and a Lithia man shot a cat with a shotgun Saturday, according to Hillsborough County Animal Services.

The cat died.

The dog was taken to a veterinarian for treatment and is recovering.

"He's beautiful except that he has a giant hole through the right side of his face," Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. "He's in amazing condition, considering."

That incident Sunday morning occurred when James Fisher, 57, shot a stray dog because he was upset that it kept coming into his yard, a criminal arrest affidavit states.

The dog, a male tricolored basset hound, had an open bleeding wound to the face and was taken to a veterinarian for treatment, investigators say. The dog has a broken tooth and some sinus cavity damage. He has been trying to eat wet food.

If the dog has an owner, investigators hope the person will claim the pet at 440 Falkenburg Road in Tampa, Ryan said.

Investigators arrested Fisher 1:54 p.m. Sunday at his Valrico home.

Fisher, 57, was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

His bail was set at $2,000. He has since been released.

Saturday's shooting victim was a stray orange cat.

Miles Clayton Shirley, 55, told investigators he shot the cat from 50 to 70 feet away because he was in fear for his life, Ryan said.

Shirley was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

His bail was set at $2,000. He has since been released.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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