Franklin shelter fined for shooting dog
The director of the Franklin County Animal Shelter faces a $5,000 fine and the facility could see its license suspended for six months after the man used a .22 rifle to dispatch an injured basset hound, a method of euthanasia that is outside the approved guidelines for sick or injured animals.
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Taylor Bartholomew reported his action to the state Department of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Section, and he was disciplined.
Sheriff Jerry Jones said it was a mistake, and that the county is taking steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Bartholomew and the county have the option to appeal the penalty.
According to the state and a report by the animal shelter, the dog got into a fight with a pit bull when the two shared a kennel at the shelter at 351 T. Kemp Road in Louisburg.
Shelter staff didn't immediately think the dog's injuries were serious. A couple of days later, Bartholomew said, he realized the dog was chewing on his injured paw and appeared to be in severe pain, so he shot him.
At the time, there was no one available who was certified to euthanize the dog.
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