CLAREMONT — The man who allegedly shot a dog in Monadnock Park on Sunday felt threatened by the animal, according to a police log record.
Police have not released the name of the person because it is an ongoing investigation, Police Chief Mark Chase said on Friday. Chase said the official police report of the incident will remain confidential until the investigation is complete.
“If we determine there was no criminal conduct and the county attorney (Marc Hathaway) agrees, then the report will be made public,” Chase said, adding that he expects the police will conclude the investigation and make their referral to Hathaway sometime early next week.
Gunner, a 2-year-old mastiff-boxer mix, was shot in the right shoulder and leg area near the tennis courts at the park. He has since returned home to his owner, Taysa Combs, after being treated for his wounds.
“So far so good,” Combs said Friday about Gunner’s condition. “He has exceeded everyone’s expectations. He seems to be doing well but is extremely sore.”
The police log opens with a call to the police around 5:45 p.m. on Sunday stating that a dog had been shot. It states that the dog’s owner, (Combs’ name is not used in the log), told police she had asked a couple that came to play tennis to let her get her dog before they opened the gate to the courts, but instead, Gunner got out.”
The log concludes with a statement from the alleged shooter, whose name is blacked out. He told police they came to play tennis and a female with a dog off a leash was in the fenced-in area.
“The dog came out from the courts and started to approach him growling. (He) stated he felt extremely threatened and shot the gun at the dog. He then returned home and called police.”
Combs version of what happened differs in that she said she asked the couple more than once to allow her to put Gunner on a leash before they opened the gate. But instead, the man began to open it, and the dog, weighing more than 100 pounds, pushed his way out.
Combs, who posted a video on Facebook explaining what happened, said the man began to run, and she told him that would only make Gunner think the man wants to play.
“I yelled to him, don’t run. Then I turned around to grab the leash, and I turned back around and it was the most surreal thing I have ever encountered,” she said in the video.
“He pulled a gun on my dog, and I started screaming and then Gunner started barking, and before I knew it, he shot him.
“I begged and pleaded and asked him not to shoot him. I said Gunner would never hurt him. Just let me grab him.”
After shooting the dog, the man left the park by the Chestnut Street entrance on foot.
Gunner has both internal and external rods to support his damaged leg and has a long recovery road ahead. The external rods are scheduled to be removed in 12 weeks and the internal rod in 20 weeks, Combs said.
“He is starting to extend his foot but is not putting pressure on it,” Combs said.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
