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Accident – Death – Obituary News : 
Michigan Man Charged After Shooting Service Dog Mistaken for a Coyote
A Michigan man is facing charges after allegedly shooting a service dog that he mistook for a coyote. The incident took place on an improved driveway near N. 33 Road in Colfax Township, Wexford County, at approximately 5:20 p.m. on November 27, according to the Michigan State Police in Cadillac.
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The man, accompanied by his American Kennel Club registered German Shepherd named Smokey, was walking approximately 1,000 feet away from their home when the incident occurred. Smokey was off-leash, walking about 12 feet in front of the owner when he was shot.
Michigan State Troopers reported that Smokey was wearing a black collar, and the owner was wearing an illuminated headlamp, ensuring visibility in the fading light. The owner recounted hearing an extremely loud gunshot, followed by Smokey’s yelp, and witnessing the dog spin in a circle before falling lifeless.
Reacting quickly, the owner shouted, “Hey, you just shot my dog!” He then confronted a man leaving the area in a truck, later identified as 65-year-old Douglas Alan Barnes from Harriette. Barnes claimed that he mistakenly believed he had shot a coyote.
Michigan State Troopers seized Barnes’ firearm, a 7MM Browning Model 81 lever action rifle equipped with a Bushnell Banner Power Scope set on 3-times zoom. The distance between Barnes’ hunting location and the spot where Smokey was shot was approximately 104 yards. An examination of the scope’s model number revealed that at 100 yards, the field of view with 3X zoom is 40 feet.
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Following the incident, a report was submitted to the Wexford County Prosecutor’s Office, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant on December 29. Barnes voluntarily surrendered himself at the Wexford County Jail on January 5, where he awaits further legal proceedings.
Barnes has been arraigned in the 84th District Court in Wexford County on charges of killing/torturing animals and reckless/negligent use of a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 23 at 2 p.m.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
Keywords: service dog, coyote, Michigan, shooting, mistaken identity, Wexford County, American Kennel Club, German Shepherd, Smokey, Michigan State Police, Cadillac, Colfax Township, firearm, hunting, arrest warrant, arraignment
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