Two Men Found Guilty In Dog Killing

Two Men Found Guilty In Dog Killing

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Story Published: Sep 2, 2004 at 2:35 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:33 AM PDT

By Michelle Esteban

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TACOMA - Two men who shot and killed a dog using a bow and arrow were found guilty Thursday of felony animal cruelty.

There's no doubt, the defendants wanted to kill the dog, they freely admit that. The question before the judge was did they do it to put the stray dog out of its misery, or was it target practice?

"I find each defendant is guilty of animal cruelty in the first degree," said Pierce County Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Felnagle.

The defendants were stunned. After three days of court proceedings, Judge Felnagle said he had no doubt that Troy Loney, 19, and Steven Paulson, 21, tortured a stray Siberian husky.

"They used target arrows, they threw the dog in river when they believed they were detected. Then they lied and only admitted they killed the dog at all when evidence made that fact incontrovertible," he said.

That's exactly what the only witness told the judge.

The witness testified that he watched in horror as the defendants tied the stray dog to a tree and then repeatedly shot it 10 times with a hunting bow and arrow.

"They know what they did," said Deputy Prosecutor Dennis Ashman, "they used the dog for target practice."

The Wilkeson men wanted the judge to believe that they shot the dog to put it out of its misery, that the dog had followed them for days. They tried to feed it, but the dog wouldn't eat. When they couldn't find a home for it, they thought it was best to kill the dog. The men claim they shot the dog twice; once to kill, a second time to make sure it was dead.

"It's not a pretty picture. I don't necessarily enjoy the thought of it myself. But, as depressing, sad and maybe tragic as that is, it's not torture," said Defense Attorney Phillip Bolland.

The judge disagreed. "Looking at all of the factors and applying them to the two various versions we have, I find the witness is believable and the defendants are not," he said.

Animal activist packed the courtroom. They call the verdict a victory for all animals.

"After years of working for animal cruelty laws, to see them actually put in place, and used, and for the law to actually work is beautiful," said Susan Michaels with Pasado's Safe Haven.

The dog's body was never recovered so the case boiled down to who the judge decided to believe.

Because both defendants have a criminal history the judge ordered them taken into custody while they await sentencing in October. They could get a year in prison.

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