ONLY ON 3: Man faces felony after hunting dog death

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Investigators with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office say a man is facing charges in connection with the deadly shooting of a hunting dog. The dog’s owner says the man told him the he was protecting his chickens, but says the GPS data on the dog’s collar contradicts that claim.

According to arrest warrants, Richard Clark, 64, was arrested March 6; he’s facing charges including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanor unlawful removal or destruction of electronic dog collars. The warrant says the incident happened February 28.

Billy Robbins, the dog’s owner, says he was hunting with his grandson on property adjacent to Clark’s property on Cedar Hill Road near Leland. Robbins says they were tracking Pete, a Mountain Cur, while squirrel hunting when Clark came out of the woods with Pete’s body. He says Clark also cut off Pete’s GPS collar.

“Mr. Clark, he brought the dog, he drug him out of the woods with the GPS collar and everything,” Robbins told dispatchers. “We’re right here on the property line.”

Robbins says Clark told him Pete was attacking some of Clark’s chickens on his property and that’s why he shot him. Robbins says the dog was never on the suspect’s property and the data from the collar shows that. Deputies said based on the investigation and information that was obtained by the GPS data, they were able to obtain the warrants to charge Clark.

Robbins says Pete was his best friend and a member of the family. He says the whole incident rattled both him and his grandson.

“Best dog in the world and he just killed him and shot him,” Robbins said.

When attempting to contact Clark for a response to the incident, no phone number was listed and the entrance to his home posted a “No Trespassing” sign. The gate to the entrance was also locked.