Nevada Man Shoots 9 Month Old Beagle

Nevada County Animal Control officials are pursuing animal cruelty charges against a Grass Valley man who shot a 9-month-old beagle with a pellet gun earlier this week.

Nevada County Animal Control Lt. Ron Earles said on Friday that Grass Valley resident Ralph Carlson may face charges of animal cruelty and malicious intent, depending on the District Attorney's assessment of animal control's report next week.

Carlson said he encountered the dog in his backyard Thursday morning on the 11000 block of Squirrel Creek Road when he saw it running through his yard with its nose to the ground.

"The dog was small, fast and looked smart," he said. "I felt it was a big threat to my cats."

Yeah, right. Sure. I hope you go to jail for a good long time, buddy.