Man shoots cows that wandered onto his property
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ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- State police are investigating whether animal cruelty charges should be filed against a man who shot several cows, two of which later died, because they wandered onto his property.
"I shot them because it's my legal right to shoot them because they were destroying my property," Dennis McElwain of Perry Township told the New Castle News.
State police said this week they are investigating the Jan. 7 shooting as an animal cruelty incident. No charges have been filed.
Mr. McElwain said he fired a .357 caliber handgun at the cattle, which had damaged his yard several times over the past few years.
"I wouldn't have minded if it was once or twice a year they got out," Mr. McElwain said. "I would have helped get them back in. But it was four of five days a week."
Three cows were shot but managed to walk home, said Herman Stafford, co-owner of the cattle.
"I had to shoot two to put them out of their misery," Mr. Stafford said. "One was shot in the throat, blew out her windpipe. The other had its back leg blown off from the knee down and the third was shot in the hoof."
All three cows were pregnant.
Mr. Stafford said he is determining his losses and has contacted an attorney.
Hunters likely left the gate to the pasture open in early December, he said. The gate now is padlocked.
First Published January 19, 2007 12:00 am
