Traill County, North Dakota (trfnews.i234.me) — A 77-year-old Traill County man is facing criminal charges after allegedly shooting his neighbor’s two dogs, killing one and injuring the other.
Luther Lerfald has been charged with two counts of animal abuse, nearly six weeks after the devastating March incident. Andy Olson, the dogs’ owner, recounted that he was attending a youth basketball game when he received the heartbreaking call: Bauer, his double doodle, had been found injured on a nearby road.
Bauer was quickly transported to a veterinary hospital in Fargo, where it was confirmed that he had been shot. Thankfully, Bauer survived and continues to recover.
Tragically, Olson’s second dog, Jake, a golden retriever, went missing. According to the Traill County Sheriff’s Office, Lerfald initially denied any knowledge about the dogs’ fate. However, he later admitted to deputies that he had dumped Jake’s body under a pile of brush in a shelter belt about a mile from his home. It was confirmed that Jake, too, had been shot.
“I pray it was once and he didn’t suffer,” Olson said about Jake.
Court documents reveal that Lerfald told investigators he shot the dogs because they were allegedly chasing deer. Olson disputes that, explaining that both dogs were wearing perimeter collars to keep them contained—and noted that one of the collars is now missing (TRF News).
When a reporter approached Lerfald for comment, he refused to answer questions, angrily responding, “You don’t have the facts at all, sir. You disconnect this and you don’t report anything … get out!”
Olson said the violent act has deeply traumatized his family.
“They meant everything — no less than our kids,” Olson said. “When I grabbed Jake from the shelter belt, I told him I would get justice for him.”
Lerfald is scheduled to appear in court in late May. If convicted, he could face up to one year in jail.
Did you know?
In North Dakota, an animal cruelty conviction for shooting a dog can result in up to one year in jail and significant fines, but many advocates are calling for even tougher penalties for cases involving deadly force against pets.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.