Debate Brews In Yell County Over Pet Dog Shooting
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: January 21, 2013
The case is now in the hands of the Yell County Prosecutor but the owner of the dog told KARK they simply want the truth about their pet to be known.
A sweet boxer-pitt mix named "Jenny " is the only animal Arika Tharp has left.
The joys of living out in the country Tharp said, standing on her three acres of land, you can let your animals out to run freely.
"We live in the middle of nowhere literally," she said. "It's just what people do out here."
But she's a little more careful when it comes to Jenny after two weeks ago, Tharp's other dog a pure bred boxer named "Riggz", never came home.
"I've lived here 12 years and never had a problem with anybody," Tharp said.
Her neighbor has since admitted to shooting Riggz.
While the family declined to speak with us on camera, they said they were protecting their children and that Riggz was shot after he growled at them.
"You don't shoot people's pets," said Tharp, "At all, it's not okay."
She has since pressed charges against her neighbor who could be charged with animal cruelty, a felony in Arkansas. But Tharp told KARK she doesn't want to see it go that far.
"Apologize for it tell the truth, don't lie," she said. "Everyone says its just a dog but its not just a dog it's part of my family."
Jenny now plays over the area where Riggz is buried.
"I still catch myself when I yell at Jenny, saying Riggz too," she said.
The dog they loved so much, now just a memory.
The Yell County Prosecutor was unavailable for comment as of Sunday.
It was almost exactly one year ago when a Lonoke County man was charged with felony animal cruelty for shooting a stray dog.
A sweet boxer-pitt mix named "Jenny " is the only animal Arika Tharp has left.
The joys of living out in the country Tharp said, standing on her three acres of land, you can let your animals out to run freely.
"We live in the middle of nowhere literally," she said. "It's just what people do out here."
But she's a little more careful when it comes to Jenny after two weeks ago, Tharp's other dog a pure bred boxer named "Riggz", never came home.
"I've lived here 12 years and never had a problem with anybody," Tharp said.
Her neighbor has since admitted to shooting Riggz.
While the family declined to speak with us on camera, they said they were protecting their children and that Riggz was shot after he growled at them.
"You don't shoot people's pets," said Tharp, "At all, it's not okay."
She has since pressed charges against her neighbor who could be charged with animal cruelty, a felony in Arkansas. But Tharp told KARK she doesn't want to see it go that far.
"Apologize for it tell the truth, don't lie," she said. "Everyone says its just a dog but its not just a dog it's part of my family."
Jenny now plays over the area where Riggz is buried.
"I still catch myself when I yell at Jenny, saying Riggz too," she said.
The dog they loved so much, now just a memory.
The Yell County Prosecutor was unavailable for comment as of Sunday.
It was almost exactly one year ago when a Lonoke County man was charged with felony animal cruelty for shooting a stray dog.
