VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLA. — A DeBary man is accused of shooting his family dog while children were only one room away in a domestic disturbance late Thursday, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies said Steven Parsons, 34, was taken into custody around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Investigators said a disturbance stemmed from Parsons’ girlfriend hiding his guns from him because he was intoxicated and made a comment about using them on himself. She said Parsons became aggressive after she hid the guns, and she left the house to get away from him.
Deputies said they entered the house to check on the safety of two children inside, an 8-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl. The children were upset but not injured.
The Sheriff’s Office said deputies noticed blood throughout the house, and moments later they were greeted by a pit bull mix, who came around a corner bleeding heavily with an apparent gunshot wound between the eyes.
The dog was friendly toward deputies, walking around and wagging its tail, seemingly stable and alert despite the injury.
Parsons told deputies he shot the dog because it bit him. Parsons’ girlfriend told deputies the dog is protective of her and bit Parsons on the hand because he was yelling.
Deputies said they found a spent round inside the bathroom where the shooting occurred, and determined that only thin drywall separated the bathroom from the bedroom where the children were at the time.
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The girlfriend took the dog to an emergency animal clinic in Daytona Beach for treatment.
Parsons was taken to a hospital to be evaluated and then to the Volusia County Jail.
He is being held without bond on charges of animal cruelty, child abuse and shooting into a dwelling.
Deputies said the dog, Chappo, was kept overnight for observation but is allowed to come home today and is expected to be fine.
A veterinarian told deputies that a entry wound was found near the dog’s nose and an exit wound was near the dog’s mouth/cheek.
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