Hearing on shooting of dog continued

A hearing set to determine the fate of a pit bull accused of charging a police officer and scaring kids last week has been continued until October.

Witnesses and the dog's caretaker appeared in Mount Pleasant's municipal court Monday morning, but a continuance was granted, so the dog will be held at an undisclosed location until then.

On Aug. 27, juveniles in the Greenhill neighborhood of Mount Pleasant called police saying that a pit bull had escaped from its cage at an Eagle Street home and chased them to a porch. The call ultimately led an officer to shoot the dog.

Before the officer arrived on scene, he was warned about the dog's possible identity and was told to use caution with the dog and its owner, according to a police report.

In reality, the dog that the juveniles said they ran from had arrived in the neighborhood only three days earlier, according to its caretaker., Lillie Charlton.

"They shot the wrong dog," Charlton said.

But the dog Charlton cared for was loose from its cage according to a police report.

Charles Chamberlain, 16, one of the juveniles chased by the dog, said he was riding a skateboard to a neighbor's house when the dog came at him barking and growling. He ran to a friend's porch and the dog followed.

"I didn't know what the dog was capable of," Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain said he then grabbed a BB gun and aimed toward the dog's general direction.

"I shot near it," Chamberlain said, "and it ran behind the house."

He left for work, but not before calling the police, fearing what the loose dog may do. Chamberlain was gone by the time police arrived.

"I didn't want him to get shot," Chamberlain said about the dog.

Once the Mount Pleasant police officer arrived, he found the dog in a neighbor's yard. It ran back to its porch and the officer called animal control. While waiting for animal control, the dog charged the officer barking and growling. The officer fired his gun and struck the dog in the torso. The dog was treated by a local veterinarian and has a good prognosis.

In addition to the nuisance animal matter, Charlton faces additional charges concerning the dog running loose and it not wearing a rabies tag.

Judge Jack Sinclaire continued the hearing until Oct. 8.

Reach Jessica Johnson at jjohnson@postandcourier.com or 937-5921.