Pet dog shot, killed

Aug. 11, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman

MEADOW LAKES - Five years ago, Brian and Rose Christie found a box with a small blue heeler puppy inside. Attached was a tag, which read, &#8220My name is Blue. Can I live with you?”

A gift from Rose's mother, Blue quickly became part of the family.

Monday, Blue lay wrapped in a black plastic garbage bag in the back of Brian's pickup, dead. He had been shot multiple times with a 45-magnum pistol less than 200 yards from his home.

&#8220He was the best dog I've ever had. He was one of our four-legged children,” Brian said. &#8220Blue was friendly, gentle and wouldn't hurt a flea. What would drive someone to shoot him is beyond me, and to shoot him in the back is just cruel and crazy.”

Blue was killed Monday, and the Christies heard all six shots fired at their dog as they stood in their yard.

&#8220I was by the barn washing one of my horses when I heard the gunshots,” Rose said. &#8220First there were two, then after 10-15 seconds, there four more. I knew immediately it was Blue.”

Brian, who was playing Frisbee with Blue moments before the dog was killed, stepped inside for a minute to answer the phone when his dog wandered off.

&#8220I was calling for him when the shots were fired,” Brian said. &#8220It was maybe a minute after I went in for the phone.”

The Christies called Alaska State Troopers Monday to report the incident, and the officer who responded conducted a brief investigation.

Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson said no further investigation into the matter was planned.

&#8220The investigating officer determined that there were no criminal actions involved,” Wilkinson said.

&#8220So the case is closed. With no criminal charges pending, the only recourse is civil.”

That determination didn't sit well with either the Christies or neighbor Maureen Pisaneschi, owner of the property where the dog was shot.

&#8220We've got no-trespassing signs up and a gate,” Pisaneschi said.

&#8220Whoever shot Blue had to cross our gate, ignore our signs to chase the dog down the trail and shoot it on my property. To say that isn't a criminal action is crazy. It was clearly the act of a malicious, ruthless individual.”

&#8220I can't believe it's OK to shoot someone's dog like that,” Brian Christie said.

The Christies suspect the investigating officer made a quick evaluation of the case because Monday was his last day of work before a vacation.

&#8220He told us he was going on vacation for two weeks starting Tuesday,” Rose Christie said. &#8220That's kind of shady that the trooper didn't have the balls to tell us that case was closed after he asked us if we could find one of the bullets, which we did. Now the case is closed?”

Making the situation more difficult for the Christies is their belief that whoever hunted down their dog is someone who lives in their community, and is still out there.

Wade Clayton, a neighbor who lives near where the dead dog was found, said he also heard the shots that ended Blue's life.

&#8220I had just gotten home from work and was loading some tools in my van when I heard the gunshots,” Clayton said.

&#8220To think that someone who lives near here is capable of that is disturbing.”

The last few days have been difficult for the Christies, as they wonder what their neighbor might be capable of in the future.

&#8220I've lived here for 28 years, now I've got this freaking gun-slinging lunatic living near me,” Rose Christie said. &#8220I'm not comfortable in my house anymore.”

The Christies, who planned to bury Blue Tuesday, instead turned the body over to the Mat-Su Borough Animal Care and Regulation division, which will be investigating since the troopers have closed the case. Borough code allows a maximum $300 fine for animal

cruelty.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.