MI Man Shoots, Kills Service Dog; Thought It Was A Coyote: Police

WEXFORD COUNTY, MI — A northern Michigan man is facing charges after he shot and killed a service dog, thinking it was a coyote, according to Michigan State Police.

Douglas Alan Barnes, 65, from Harriette, was charged with one count of killing/torturing animals, and one count of reckless/negligent use of a firearm. He was released from jail on a personal recognizance bond.

His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 23.

Police said a Colfax Township man was out walking with Smokey, his German Shepherd, on Nov. 27 during the afternoon hours. The two were walking in the owner's driveway off North 33rd Road near federal and state forest grounds, roughly 1,000 feet from the home, police said.

The dog, which was a registered service dog and wearing a black collar, was walking roughly 12 feet ahead of the owner, who was wearing a headlamp, police said.

The owner then heard the dog yelp after a loud gunshot and saw Smokey spin in a circle then fall to the ground, where he died, police said.

The owner did not immediately see anyone, but yelled "you just shot my dog," police said.

The owner then walked to another area in his driveway where he had seen tire tracks earlier in the day and confronted a man who was attempting to leave in a truck, police said.

The man told the owner he thought the dog was a coyote, police said.

When a state trooper questioned Barnes, who said he had been hunting, he told troopers he thought it was a coyote and didn't see anyone walking with the animal, police said.

Barnes was carrying a 7 mm Browning Model 81 lever action rifle, with a Bushnell Banner Power Scope, which troopers confiscated, police said.

The scope, which is a magnifying device to improve a shooter's sight and accuracy, was set to increase threefold, police said.

Barnes told troopers he was hunting roughly 104 yards away from where the dog was shot, police said.

Investigators determined that with the scope tripled, his viewing ability to see from left to right was roughly 40 feet, police said.