Pa. hunter shoots, kills dog mistaken for coyote, owners say

SWATARA TWP, Pa. (WPMT) — A couple in Pennsylvania is furious after a hunter shot and killed their dog near their home.

The hunter says he mistook their German shepherd -- named Tucker -- for a coyote.

But that excuse is not good enough for Tucker's owners.

WATCH BELOW

Gunshots rang out across a field in Swatara Township.

"We're used to that,” says Tricia Kreiser, who lives next to a rifle range. “We hear that all the time."

She was surprised one morning in December when her dog, Tucker, didn't come back from being let out.

After hours of searching, members of the Jonestown Fish and Game Association contacted her.

"I knew they were going to tell me that Tucker was dead, but I just assumed they would say they found him on the road,” Kreiser said. “I never in a million years thought he was going to tell me that someone shot him."

Kreiser says club member William White told her he shot Tucker, mistaking the dog as a coyote.

Tucker was still on Kreiser's property when he was killed.

"Every time I even come near this part of the land, I just start to cry," Kreiser said.

Kreiser reported the incident to police.

The PA Game Commission charged White with three violations, including shooting within 150 yards of the Kreisers' home.

White did not respond to a request for comment.

The Jonestown Association says they are fully cooperating with the Game Commission's investigation.

"It just upsets me that the club won't even come down and apologize to us," Larry Kreiser said.

As lifelong hunters, the Kreisers don't have any issue with the sport, when done responsibly.

"I won't stop hunting because of it, because I refuse to live in fear because of someone else's foolishness," Kreiser said.

The Kreisers no longer let their grandkids play on the field bordering the range.

Now, when she hears gunshots, Tricia says the sound goes right through her.

"I don't know that I can ignore it anymore,

" Kreiser said. “Makes me feel a little different than what it did before."

A small silver lining, after hearing what happened, a local woman gave the Kreisers a German shepherd-lab mix puppy, who they named Knox.

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