Charges Filed Against a Family Who Shot a Dog Then left it for Dead
“Justice For Duke” is the cry from the public in relation to the shooting of a young male English Mastiff in November in Greenwood Township. The rescue group, Animals Matter of Clearfield County, Inc., was able to raise funds for the treatment of the poor creature that was found near death, after being shot in the head. The public eagerly watched the group’s Facebook page for updates on the dog, now known as Goldie, who has recovered and already found a new loving home. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10 at the Copper Cork Center in Clearfield for the two people charged with felony animal cruelty. (Photo courtesy of Animal Matters).
By Julie Rae Rickard
Three family members have been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly shooting a dog and leaving it to die.
Luckily the dog was found by an individual who then contacted the local animal rescue group Animals Matter of Clearfield County, Inc. The dog was taken to two different animal hospitals for treatment for a gunshot wound to the head and was saved.
The group began posting updates on their Facebook page in November about the dog while they reportedly raised $12,000 for his treatment. Regular posts kept people up to date on his condition.
He was placed in a foster to adopt home and made a miraculous recovery.
Since then the group has been calling for “Justice For Duke”.
Charges were filed earlier this month by state police against Nichole Marie Daisher, 31, and her father, Ricky Allen Daisher, 60, both of Mahaffey in addition to an unnamed juvenile relative.
According to the affidavit filed with District Judge James Glass’s office, Heather Hoover, the president of Animals Matter contacted police on Nov. 24 reporting the dog, a young male English Mastiff, was lying on the ground, unable to move. A shoestring was tied around the dogs muzzle and there were wounds on his body and head. He had a collar and slip leash around his neck.
Hoover took the dog, Duke, to Metzger’s Animal Hospital in State College and then contacted Nichole Daisher, the owner, to ask her to sign over custody to Animals Matter and she agreed.
Duke was then taken to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital in Pittsburgh for further treatment. It was determined that he had been shot by a small caliber firearm in the head, with the bullet ricocheting off his skull and into his jaw, fracturing it before exiting the side of his face, according to the report. Duke was also emaciated and tested positive for Lyme disease.
The investigation uncovered information from her cell phone, that Nichole Daisher traveled on Nov. 23 from her home at 6:07 p.m. to the location where Duke was found and then back home.
When Nicole Daisher was interviewed by police on Dec. 19, she stated that day she went to her parents’ home for Thanksgiving and when she returned home, Duke was on top of their other dog. She put the other dog into a kennel and calmed Duke down.
She went back to her parents’ home for dinner.
“When she returned to her residence, her oldest child walked over to Duke. Duke lunged at her child,” it says in the criminal complaint.
Because this scared her, she put Duke outside and contacted her father saying she did not know what to do. She told police she didn’t want to take him to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals “because they would have just put Duke down for being aggressive.”
So, instead, she, her father and another family member took the dog to Steep Hill Road in Greenwood Township. When they got there, her father and the juvenile took Duke out of the truck, while she stayed in it. She said she heard one shot.
After they heard a car coming, they all got back into the truck and fled the area, leaving Duke behind.
Nichole Daisher reportedly said she unsure how the dog’s mouth had gotten tied and the juvenile was the one who actually shot Duke.
When the juvenile was questioned, he said Nichole Daisher was “the one who said that Duke had to go, and she had also tied Duke’s muzzle with the shoestring.” He admitted to voluntarily shooting the animal with a gun supplied by Ricky Daisher, according to the affidavit.
In his interview with police, Ricky Daisher reportedly admitted to taking the dog to the woods and seeing the juvenile shoot him once. After the dog fell over and quivered, he stated that he believed the dog was “done.”
He confirmed that the trio left the scene after they heard a car coming.
Nichole Daisher is charged with felony conspiracy/aggravated cruelty to animals, misdemeanor cruelty to animals, misdemeanor neglect of animals-vet care, and four summary counts. Ricky Daisher is facing similar charges. Because the third defendant is a juvenile, information on his case is not available to the public.
They are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 10 at 10 a.m., during centralized court at the Copper Cork Event Center in Clearfield.
For more information on Animal Matters, check out their Facebook page. The all volunteer group is always answering requests to rescue animals and for help to find lost pets. They have regular bingo on Monday Night as fundraisers and are currently selling air fresheners with Duke’s photo.