LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A Wayland man was arrested for felony Animal Cruelty after allegedly shooting and killing a neighbor’s dog on April 27 because the dog was going to the bathroom in his yard.
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Harold Bauer, 68, was arrested on May 3 for Aggravated Animal Cruelty, an E felony, as well as Criminal Mischief, an A misdemeanor, in connection to the shooting death of a neighbor’s dog, ‘Marcus,’ or ‘Marky-Mark,’ who was shot in the rear with a load of buckshot on 8919 Story Road in Wayland, just within the Livingston County line.
According to State Police, Bauer originally called the owner saying that the dog had been hit by a car, but once the autopsy came back with an x-ray showing buckshot pellets in the wound he claimed he shot the dog because he was going to the bathroom in his yard and destroying livestock.
State Police added that Bauer has no livestock at the residence.
After a few days of investigating, Bauer was located and arrested at his residence by State Police. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
A community Facebook page, ‘Justice for Marky-Mark,’ was created immediately on April 27 after the incident by local animal rights groups and supporters, and on one of it’s posts Penny Cartwright, ‘Marky-Mark’s’ owner, thanked the community and police for their response to the situation.
“I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming response that has been given since this was first posted,” posts Cartwright. “Marcus was a part of my family for the last twelve years. Marcus was one of the sweetest dogs you ever could have met. He was a full grown dog but he had the mind and attitude of a puppy. He loved to meet people whenever anyone would pull in the yard he would have to meet them, when ever a dog came into the yard he would have to meet them… I cannot say enough about Marcus, I have three grandchildren that don’t understand why someone would have done that to their friend when their friend had never hurt anyone. The loss of Marcus has left an empty void in our family.. I still expect to see him when I come home from work I still catch myself calling his name. The way Marcus died was violent. When he was shot he didn’t die immediately – His death was a slow death….. There has to justice for Marcus and there has to be justice for every other animal out there that is abused or killed..
…I want to take this time also to thank the troopers in their assistance and their compassion over the loss of Marcus. And I want to thank the people that started this page to let people know about the death of Marcus so that justice can be served. And once again I want to thank each and everyone of the people that have come on the site to give their support.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Marky Mark. (Photo/Facebook)
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