A Palmhurst man who claimed he was concerned for the welfare of his peacocks shot two dogs Wednesday morning who went into his property.
Donald Kenneth Guthrie, 61, was charged with two counts of animal cruelty.
Officers from the Palmhurst Police Department responded to a call of shots fired shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday morning at the property in the 4700 block of North Ponds Edge Drive, according to the probable cause affidavit.
The bodies of two German Malinois dogs that had been shot were found on Guthrie’s property, though he had left shortly before the officers arrived, the affidavit stated. Guthrie returned when he was summoned back.
Officers obtained video of the incident from a neighbor that showed Guthrie walking out from the south side of his home with a shotgun. The report stated Guthrie shot three buckshot rounds and killed both dogs near the garage area, although they “did not pose a threat to him or his property.”
Guthrie said he was having “issues with dogs attacking his peacocks which roam his property,” according to the affidavit.
Officers arrested Guthrie on Wednesday.
A combined $20,000 personal recognizance bond was set on Guthrie, and he was able to get released the same day.
