N.C. man faces cruelty charge after dog shot in face

HERTFORD, N.C.

Authorities say a Perquimans County man will be charged with felony cruelty to animals after a neighbor's Labrador retriever returned home Saturday with a close-range shotgun blast to the face.

The Perquimans County Sheriff's Office issued a felony warrant for Terry Jackson of Swamp Road, Sheriff Eric Tilley said.

The dog was on Jackson's property Saturday morning but was not a threat, according to a witness at the scene, Tilley said. Jackson went inside his home and got his shotgun before shooting the dog at close range, he said.

"The right thing to do would be to call the animal control officer," Tilley said.

A message left at a phone number for a Terry Jackson on Swamp Road was not returned Monday evening.

Duke, a 1-year-old white Lab, was a birthday present last year from his sons, Jarvis Miller said Monday. Duke slept by Miller's bed every night. He let Duke out Saturday morning and within 15 minutes, the dog had returned to the front porch, bleeding badly.

Miller rushed him to veterinary care, eventually going to an emergency clinic in Chesapeake.

X-rays showed shotgun pellets in his face and head. Duke died Sunday from complications, Miller said.

Miller said his sons followed the blood trail to Jackson's house.