Border Fire: Shots Fired As Animal Control Officers Work to Rescue Livestock

Campo, CA — As animal control officers with the County of San Diego have worked to rescue hundreds of animals from the 7,500-acre Border Fire over the last three days, the attempted rescue of an emu apparently did not go so well.

Twenty-two chickens, "numerous" dog, sheep and horses have been rescued as the wildfire spreads through the rural area near Tecate, close to the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Dan De Sousa, deputy director of the County of San Diego Animal Service Department.

"Our job is to make sure the animals are safely evacuated and sheltered," De Sousa said. "That helps ensure that the people evacuate safely as well."

• Border Fire Update: 1,500 Firefighters Battle From Front Lines

One Campo resident, however, did not apparently care for the county's help in an incident involving an emu that was first reported by 10News..

San Diego County Sheriff's Spokeswoman Melissa Aquino confirmed that a man was arrested in a shooting that was reported about 6 p.m. Monday in the 28000 block of State Route 94 in Campo.

"County Dept. of Animal Control was on patrol and saw an emu in distress," Aquino told Patch. "As he approached the emu, a man came out and exchanged words with the animal control officer. The man went inside his home and returned with a shotgun."

The shooting suspect, 32-year-old Sean Michael Shepherd, was arrested and remained jailed Tuesday on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm and for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

As a result of the shooting, the animal control officer was not able to take custody of the emu. The animal, which authorities believe belongs to a neighbor of Shepherd, ran off and disappeared, Aquino said.

No one was hurt in the incident, she added.

Aquino said the man fired the shotgun into the air — not at the officer or the officer's car.

"...He was far away from the officer," she said.

Shepherd, who was being held at San Diego Central Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail as of Tuesday, is scheduled to be arraigned next Tuesday.

County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson said animal rescues can be dangerous for the animals and the officers involved. She said California law and court decisions allow animal control officers to enter a property without a warrant when an officer has a reasonable belief that prompt action is needed to protect the welfare of an animal.

Danielson said an officer’s objective is to protect and rescue injured animals.

“Generally the public is very supportive of our officers in the field,” Danielson said. “The best thing they can do to help us is to keep their distance and watch quietly. Otherwise an injured animal can get spooked and run off. Then our officer loses an opportunity to help that animal.”

(Image via County News Center video)