A Caroline man who shot and killed an RCMP breeding dog must wait until next month to find out if he will be convicted of a crime.
Provincial court Judge Darrell Riemer said he will deliver his verdict on Aug. 7 on the several charges faced by Robert Gordon Adams in connection with the Aug. 16, 2007, shooting of Nyla, a German shepherd that produced offspring for the RCMP’s Police Dog Training Centre near Innisfail.
Adams, 52, from the Caroline area, is charged with causing death or injury to an animal, unauthorized possession of a firearm and storing a firearm in a careless manner.
Adams admitted shooting the dog, which had wandered onto his property, with a single shotgun blast to the head at his June trial in Rocky Mountain House provincial court.
However, he said he only went for a gun after failing to scare off the dog by waving his arms and hollering.
The court was told Adams did not know the dog was a neighbour’s when it came to his home and chased his cat under the house. His defence lawyer, Patty MacNaughton, said for all Adams knew, the dog was a potentially dangerous stray.
Crown prosecutor Denis Huot said it is only lawful to kill a dog if it is attacking people or livestock. Nyla was standing in the yard when shot.