Madison County Man Arrested For Re-Enacting Old Yeller

Imagine your dog is old. Really old. We're talking 100+ dog years old.

Now-- after a decade of playing fetch, belly scratching, begging for table scraps, and pissing on the carpet--- the dog is sick. It can't walk, can't see, can't hardly even eat.

It's time to suck it up, face the facts, and bite the bullet. Old Yeller has to be put down.

It's the right thing to do, right?

That's what a man from Moro, Illinois (near Bethalto, northeast of St. Louis Regional Airport) was thinking yesterday afternoon when he led his ailing St. Bernard into the backyard, blew his doggie brains out, and buried him on the spot.

Problem is, the Madison County Sheriff's Department and one startled neighbor didn't agree that it was the most legal (or humane) solution.
Via the Belleville News-Democrat:

Officers responded to the call at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday in the first block of Haven Street. A neighbor called police to report he heard several gunshots and a dog crying. When officers arrived, they discovered a man shot his own dog on his property. The man also reportedly buried the dead St. Bernard on his property, according to Madison County Sheriff's Capt. Brad Wells.

According to the dog's owner, the dog had health problems, Wells stated. The dog's carcass was exhumed from the back yard by animal control officers as part of the investigation.

Police have not released the name of the man who shot the dog because no charges have been filed against him in the case.

Investigators have met with the Madison County State's Attorney and the case may be turned over to a grand jury, Wells said

Vet's usually charge around $40 to euthanize a dog. Even if he didn't commit a crime (unlawful use of a firearm, perhaps?), here's guessing the Moro man's legal bills will add up to way more than that.

Really it's a shame, because here are the people who should be arrested for re-enacting Old Yeller: