J’burg man says he meant to frighten dog, not kill it
By SARAH SUTSCHEK - ssutschek@nwherald.com
JOHNSBURG – A Johnsburg man said Wednesday that killing his neighbor’s dog with a BB gun blast was an accident.
Raymond Castellanos, 38, was charged May 6 with criminal damage to property and cruel treatment to an animal after he shot and killed the dog, police said.
“It was an unfortunate accident,” Castellanos said. “I was trying to scare the dog out of the yard. It was coming into the yard for over a year, and I was just trying to frighten it.”
The dog was a bichon named Buddy that lived across the street and catty-corner at 3414 Ramsgate Lane.
Buddy’s owner, Deana Pascente, said that her husband was mowing the lawn at the time of the incident.
“Call the police or tell my husband, ‘Hey, get your dog off my property,’ ” she said. “But shoot him? There could have been kids around.”
The dog was 11 years old, about 101⁄2 pounds, and in good health, Pascente said.
“It’s two weeks ago today, and it’s still very emotional,” she said. “I forget he’s not there to let out. He sat on the couch and watched TV with us; he was a lap dog. Our house is pretty empty.”
A veterinarian verified that the BB pierced Buddy’s lung and was the cause of death, Johnsburg Police Chief Kenneth Rydberg said.
Pascente said that she was more afraid of the dog being attacked by a coyote than being shot by a neighbor.
“Being hit by a car, that would be a horrible accident,” she said. “I don’t understand how you can shoot at a harmless dog like that – even just to scare him.”
Castellanos said he believed that he was being retaliated against over the incident. Someone recently threw an object through his window and broke a lamp, he said.
Castellanos’ next court date is scheduled for May 27.
