STARKVILLE — An Oktibbeha County man was arrested over the weekend for killing a neighbor”s dog that wandered onto his property.
David Dunigan, of 1879 Pointe Drive in the Browning Creek subdivision, was charged Sunday afternoon with the malicious killing of a dog, Oktibbeha County Sheriff”s Department Chief Deputy George Carrithers said. Dunigan paid a $1,000 appearance bond and was released, Carrithers said.
According to Carrithers, Dunigan faces up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
“This man, he killed a neighbor”s dog and that shouldn”t happen,” Carrithers said.
The incident occurred Sunday, said Brian Prisock, the father of Paige Prisock, whose dog was shot. The dog, a golden retriever mix, had been staying at the Prisock home just down the road from Dunigan, Brian Prisock said.
The shooting took place in the morning, when the retriever and another family dog wandered a couple hundred yards away from the house, then crossed onto Dunigan”s property. After the incident, Dunigan loaded the dead dog”s body into his vehicle and left with it before returning by himself a short time later. It is unclear where he took the dog.
“I don”t know what provoked him into shooting the dog,” Brian Prisock said. “It”s just a shame that he would do something like that.”
Dunigan initially denied any involvement in the shooting, but eventually came clean and returned the dog to the Prisocks. They buried the animal on their property.
Dunigan did not return calls seeking comment this week. Paige Prisock also could not be reached.
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