December 17, 2014
From SouthernMinn.com
A Nerstrand man who shot and killed a black Labrador retriever while deer hunting in rural Northfield has been charged with a single felony count of animal cruelty.
According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Rice County District
Court:
James Peters, of Nerstrand, was out hunting on the neighboring property in the early morning hours of Nov. 15. When the landowner called and asked Peters how hunting went, he replied with “strange.” Peters went on to tell the landowner he was not in a deer stand but on a slight hill and saw two dogs run by where one of them continued sniffing the deer trail.
Peters then shot the dog, according to the complaint, which he said had no collar or tags.
After admitting he shot and killed the dog to the landowner, Peters went to the dog owner’s home to apologize. Peters could not give an answer as to why he shot the dog, according to the complaint, but offered to pay restitution.
Peters is being charged with overwork/mistreat animals-torture, a felony, and if convicted, faces a maximum sentence of not more than two years in jail, a $5,000 fine, or both.