Man faces animal cruelty, other charge after Estill County rescue dog shot to death
The search for a missing rescue dog came to a sad end Monday.
Hunter, a full-blooded bloodhound, was found dead from a gunshot wound, according to Waco Fire and Rescue Station 14. The dog was found by a LEX18 news photographer that was reporting on the dog’s disappearance in the area, LEX18 reported. The station said he was shot multiple times.
A dog used to find missing people is lost, the Estill County Rescue Squad said Monday.
When the search began, the dog had last been seen in the Redlick Road and Kissey Branch Road area in Estill County, the fire station posted. In a Facebook post that was shared hundreds of times, the Waco fire station was asking residents of Estill and Madison counties for help finding the dog.
Hunter was let outside Sunday morning and never came back, according to WKYT, the Herald-Leader’s reporting partner. A witness’ statement led investigators to find a shotgun shell and traces of blood in the driveway of a man named Charles Collins on Monday, the news station reported.
State police arrested Charles Collins, 59, of Irvine Monday night and charged him with cruelty to animals and assault on a service animal, according to the Three Forks Regional Jail website.
If you have any information on what happened to the dog, contact Estill County central dispatch at 606-723-2201.
This story was originally published January 7, 2019 at 11:02 AM.