December 7, 2012
From Journal Inquirer
They never hurt anybody: Officials investigate teen hunter, father after 3 beagles are shot dead in Suffield.
SUFFIELD — Police and state officials are investigating whether to lodge charges against a man and his 13-year-old son after the son — at the direction of his father — shot and killed three beagles after they interfered with the boy’s hunting of deer off Route 159 last month, authorities said.
Police Chief Michael Manzi and state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesman Dwayne Gardner said their agencies are investigating the incident, including whether the boy was hunting on his own or whether his father was supervising him, and whether they had hunting permits.
Manzi said the man admitted to ordering his son to shoot the three Beagles because they interfered with efforts to hunt deer off Route 159 near Boston Neck Road.
Gardner declined to name the man and his son because the case is under investigation. He said charges could include cruelty to animals — an offense punishable with a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to five years in prison — but it would be Suffield police who would ultimately have to apply for an arrest warrant because the incident did not occur on state land.
The dogs belonged to Richard Johnson, 83, of Hartford, who used them to hunt rabbits, said his godson, Ray Shelton of East Hartford.
Manzi said the man admitted he told his son to shoot the dogs because the son was trying to hunt deer.