The Wayne County Office of Sheriff reported the arrest on Friday (6/17) at 11:15 a.m. of Kenneth G. Holley Jr., age 58, of Hartnagle Road in Arcadia.
It was alleged that Holley shot and killed the neighbor’s dog after the dog came onto his property. He was charged with Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and issued an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Arcadia Court to answer the charges.
But was there something else that led to the pit bull being shot? Is this a real case of animal abuse in a County with a District Attorney who has no mercy for those abusing animals?
The story spread like wildfire, as animal abuse stories do. “He shot the dog five times… He shot the dog while he was sitting in his truck… He had the keys to the truck and his cell phone, so why didn’t he just call 911, or drive away?”
A television news reporter talked to the pit bull’s owner, Sarah Russell. According to the TV report, police say he did it because Jasmine approached a fence that connects to his property. “My dogs either go in the dog kennel or in the yard,” Russell said. “He just doesn’t like the breed.”
The television reported that Holley wasn’t home Sunday or at his auto repair shop, but his daughter said the pit bull puppy charged at him.
“It came through the fence and started charging him,” Holley’s daughter, Ginnie Jackson said. “They are aggressive and they don’t stop.”
Ken called the Times at the time of his arrest. He wanted the public to know the truth, what really happened. “I love dogs. I have eight in my kennel that I train for hunting. I was on my own property and the dog broke through the fence. I had no other choice.”
The police report is straight forward. It stated Holley saw the dog coming, jumped in the back of his pick up truck and worked his way into the cab through the passenger side window. There are conflicting reports concerning Holley’s keys and cell phone.
Holley retrieved his Glock pistol and, when he thought the dog was gone, stepped out of his truck. The dog appeared and was attacking when he pulled the trigger once, hitting the dog in the head. The police report confirms the dog was shot once. “I would do it again,” said Ken.
At one point with the police he said he refused to make any other statements on the advice of his wife, who feared no matter what he said he would be arrested for animal abuse.
Holley said he has statements from neighbors confirming that Russell’s dogs have had numerous complaints and that they will readily appear in Court in his defense.
Neighbor Kelly Stanton, who owns a pit bull herself, stated she was coming home late one night recently and encountered Russell’s dogs wandering in the road. She stated that two of the dogs were friendly enough, but the third, the one she believes was shot, was “By no means friendly.” She called police and the trooper who arrived was also confronted by the growling dog. “It is sad that the dog got shot, but I put that on the dog owner,” said Stanton. She also told Holley that she too would appear on his behalf in court.
Animal Cruelty Investigator, Bob Howard confirmed that he has had several complaints concerning Russell allowing her dogs to run wild and she has been issued tickets.
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