Dogs’ deaths concern owner

By Sally Petty, Staff Writer

June 24, 2006 02:46 pm

— ELNORA — Two times, someone shot windows out of Shaun and Alisha Ault’s house. Three times, someone shot their dogs.
The couple had about 30 dogs at their old farm house surrounded by corn and soybean fields when the shootings started in April, said Alisha. Now, with 10 shot and 10 taken to the animal shelter June 8, they are down to about nine.
“I was tired of watching them get shot,” she said. “They can shoot my house. I can always replace a window. But I can’t replace a dog.”
Deputy Dave Fleming, who is investigating the shootings reported April 11 and 24 and June 4, said at least seven of the dogs shot were killed. A 1984 Monte Carlo at the house and two windows worth $200 to $300 were also shot. He has found a bullet and shell casings related to the shootings, and he does have a suspect.
Alisha, who works at a local nursing home, said she came home to find dogs killed in their dog houses, in her basement and even in her bed. Others had been beaten or strangled by their chains, she said. They are buried in her yard.
Alisha, who grew up in Muncie and moved to the Elnora area six years ago, has always loved dogs, she said, and frequently takes in strays.
“I don’t want to see strays starve to death,” she said, fondling the ears of a dog she raised on a bottle and letting him drink out of her cup. “They’re all so spoiled. They get what they want.”
Until recently, said Alisha, she let the dogs run loose, which she didn’t feel was a problem because she lives in the country. But following complaints from neighbors, sheriff’s deputies asked her to tie them up or keep them in the house.
Fleming said he is also concerned the dogs could get in the road — SR 57 is nearby — and cause an accident. He said he has suggested the couple build a kennel since they enjoy helping strays.
“It seems they’re trying to do the right thing, feeding the strays,” he said.
Alisha says her dogs are socialized and are not mean since she regularly has friends and family visit.
“My dogs are good and don’t bite,” she said.
But Dennis Boring, director of the Washington Animal Shelter, said the 10 she brought in when she decided she couldn’t keep them were not adoptable.
The couple does have a kennel license for up to 20 dogs, said Fleming. According to state law, the kennel license allows those keeping dogs for breeding, boarding or training to pay the dog tax in one lump sum rather than per dog.
They were also required to vaccinate all their dogs for rabies, at the minimum, and Kim Metzger, president of local humane society Friends for Animals, believes they have complied. She has taken tie chains and dog food to the Aults as they try to care for their dogs, which was getting expensive. It had been costing $80 every two weeks to feed them, said Alisha.
While the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, Alisha is hoping people will just leave her house and her dogs alone.
“It makes me mad, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m going the legal route, and the cops are investigating,” she said. “I hope the cops find whoever’s doing this and they get what they deserve. It’s wrong to come out on someone else’s property and shoot their dogs. I’m tired of digging holes. I love them, and I’ll do whatever it takes for them.”
“Whoever’s doing this needs to understand she’s had 10 dogs euthanised, and she’s had 10 dogs killed,” added Metzger. “She’s making every effort possible. They need to stay off of her property.”

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