- Michigan, USA -
On Saturday, January 23, Calhoun County Sheriff Department deputies were called to a property in the 3900 block of 3 1/2 Mile Road in Athens Township about a dog who had been killed.
The caller, 24-year-old Melody Taylor, told deputies that her brother-in-law had killed her puppy, a 5-month-old mixed black Labrador and Treeing Walker Coonhound named Luna.
Melody explained that the night before, Friday, January 22, she and her husband went out to visit some friends and left Luna with her brother-in-law, 22-year-old ERIK PAUL TAYLOR (pictured below).
Battle Creek Enquirer reports that on Saturday Melody asked TAYLOR where Luna was,
“he shrugged his shoulders and said he ran away last night.”
As Melody said she was going to look for Luna, TAYLOR said: “Well, no, I shot your dog.”
TAYLOR claimed that Luna, who was a 20-pound puppy, was attacking Great Pyrenees dogs who weigh over 100 pounds and also lived at the property.
Melody did not believe that and told Battle Creek Enquirer: “She was never aggressive. She was a lover. I have a two-year-old daughter and she was always pouncing on (Luna) and playing with her and she has never snapped at her.”
Melody also added: “The other dogs were outside dogs and Luna was scared of them and when you would run at her she would cower down. I just never believed it. She was never aggressive, so I didn't believe it.”
While Melody was out looking for Luna, she found a chainsaw with blood and a bandanna that Luna was wearing the night before, soaked with blood.
Deputies were assisted by the Michigan State Police and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police, whose officers found Luna’s body.
Luna was buried with her head nearly severed.
TAYLOR was later located and questioned.
TAYLOR claimed he was not watching Luna on Friday night and that she was just running around the property.
He also told deputies that Luna became aggressive toward one of his father's dogs, so he shot her with a .22-caliber rifle.
TAYLOR then added a chilling detail and said that since the bullet did not kill Luna, he used the chain saw “to finish her off.”
A medical examination, however, didn't show any gunshot wounds.
According to deputies, TAYLOR told them the dog was possessed and he had to kill her.
Sheriff Steve Hinkley said: “This is one of the worst cases of animal cruelty we have investigated in quite some time.”
Reportedly, the Friday night that Melody and her husband were out, another member of the family was supposed to watch Luna.
Melody told the Battle Creek Enquirer: “I had never trusted him (Erik). Two weeks prior he was telling my husband and I we should kill the dog because the dog was possessed. He just said it that one time and I asked him to leave the house.”
I do not understand why after that statement he was left with Luna.
This sick monster is scheduled to appear in Calhoun County District Court on February 9, 2021, for a preliminary examination.
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