A Zion-area man has been indicted by a Lake County grand jury after allegedly shooting a neighbor’s dog, which then had to be put to sleep.
James Bartlet, 49, of the 43000 block of Delaney Road, was charged Wednesday with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, said Sgt. Christopher Thompson of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
Bartlet allegedly shot both back legs of the 7-year-old mixed-breed dog with a .22-caliber rifle in August. Bartlet said he was angry because the dog had bit his dog and had come into his yard, Thompson said.
The dog’s hind legs were shattered, and it couldn’t walk, Thompson said. After taking the dog to a veterinarian, the owner decided to have it euthanized because there was no guarantee the dog would be able to walk again.
“We certainly understand people have a right to their privacy. However, there are better ways to communicate than shooting someone’s pet,” Thompson said.
Bartlet is free on bail and set to be arraigned Oct. 26 in Circuit Court.
