AUSTIN — A Spring Valley man was charged Thursday in Mower County District Court with animal cruelty for allegedly shooting his neighbor's dog. The dog died as a result of the incident.
Everett Kabage, 85, faces a felony charge for allegedly shooting a 2-year-old yellow lab that was wearing an identification collar on March 20. The dog was also wearing a collar for an invisible fence, but authorities say the heavy snow caused it to be ineffective.
The dog's owner realized his dog had gone past the usual barrier after about 10 minutes, according to the court complaint. He told police that he found his dog lying in a field north of his home with a blood trail he traced back to Kabage's yard.
When Kabage spoke with members of the Mower County Sheriff's Office, he acknowledged shooting the dog with a rifle because it was on his property, the complaint says; he did not further explain the reaction. Kabage appeared intoxicated from alcoholic beverages when speaking with authorities, according to the complaint.
Kabage faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted.
