On Tuesday, a man in Indianapolis, Indiana was cleared of all charges after shooting a service dog belonging to a child. The incident occurred in August of this year when the man, who has not been identified, shot the dog after it allegedly violated a local ordinance.
The dog, a pit bull named “Buddy”, belonged to a 10-year-old girl who had been using it as a service animal to help her cope with anxiety. According to reports, the dog had been off its leash and was running around the neighborhood when the man shot it.
The man was initially charged with animal cruelty and other offenses, but the charges were dropped after a judge ruled that the dog had been in violation of a local ordinance. The ordinance states that all dogs must be on a leash when in public.
The judge also noted that the man had acted in self-defense, as the dog had allegedly been aggressive towards him. The judge ruled that the man had acted reasonably and that no criminal charges were warranted.
The girl’s family has since filed a civil lawsuit against the man, claiming that he acted recklessly and without regard for the safety of the child or her service animal. The lawsuit is still pending.
The incident has sparked a debate over the rights of service animals and their owners. Many have argued that service animals should be given more protection under the law, while others have argued that owners should be held accountable for their animals’ behavior.
Regardless of the outcome of the civil lawsuit, the incident has highlighted the need for better laws and regulations regarding service animals and their owners. It is important that service animals are given the protection they need, while also ensuring that owners are held accountable for their animals’ behavior.