Boise County man sues neighbor who fatally shot his fenced-in dog last year
Larry Leach filed a lawsuit in Boise County last month against neighbor Gregory Reed, who shot and killed his German shepherd last year.
The lawsuit, filed April 1, says that the 5-year-old dog, named Gretchen, was shot in February 2019.
Reed, 63, was criminally charged in Boise County with misdemeanor disturbing the peace and misdemeanor malicious injury to property in the animal’s shooting. He pleaded guilty in February this year and was sentenced to probation and 10 days in jail. Reed voluntarily surrendered all firearms for five years as a result of his convictions, according to online court records.
Leach and Reed lived on northern Ridge Drive in Boise County at the time of the shooting, according to the complaint.
Reed had never complained to Leach about Gretchen, according to a copy of the complaint, filed by Leach’s attorney at Animal Law Offices of Adam Karp. But on Feb. 27, 2019, Reed shot Gretchen with a scoped hunting airgun while the dog was on Leach’s property behind a chain-link fence.
The weapon was a Hatsan BullBoss .25-caliber rifle.
Leach claims that the shooting caused the animal “suffering for days,” and she ultimately died on March 1, 2019. Leach reportedly spent more than $3,700 on veterinary bills and wants to be compensated for those bills.
According to the complaint, Reed initially denied shooting the dog when questioned by sheriff’s deputies, but later admitted to it.
Leach’s lawsuit also alleges pain and suffering, and emotional distress, and says he lives in fear of living near a person who openly fires weapons.
In the criminal case, a judge already ordered Reed to pay $10,000 in restitution to Leach.
The next scheduled court date in the lawsuit’s case is Friday, May 15.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 12:47 PM.
