Police: Man Who Shot Dog Charged With Cruelty to Animals

A Newtown Township man is being charged with cruelty to animals after he shot his German shepherd dog, Newtown Township police said. The dog was later euthanized by township police because it was suffering, police said.

Gary Wheatley Kirk, 61, of Upper Silver Lake Road in Newtown Township was arraigned last week to face charges of illegally possessing a firearm as well as cruelty to animals.  Kirk was released on an unsecured bail of $50,000 and an order to not have access to any firearms, Newtown Township police said.

According to Newtown Township police, the charges were filed after they received a report on March 25 from a resident who reported that a German shepherd had attacked his dog.

Newtown Township police officers say they have previously received similar reports regarding Kirk’s dog. When police went to Kirk’s property to speak with him about his dog, he indicated to the officers that he was going to have the dog put down due to its aggressive nature, police said. 

Two days later, police said they responded to Kirk’s home after receiving a report that Kirk was shooting at his dog.  The responding officers located Kirk and he initially denied any knowledge of gun shots in the area. He later told officers that he did use a weapon to shoot his dog, police said. 

Police found the dog, still alive laying in the yard with apparent gun shot wounds. Police on the scene made the decision to euthanize the animal to end its suffering, the police department said.

Kirk’s preliminary hearing, which began today, was continued until May 2.