Dog Shot, Owner Says She Couldn't Pay For Vet

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Dog Shot, Owner Says She Couldn't Pay For Vet

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Posted: 7:10 AM Oct 8, 2008
Last Updated: 7:09 AM Oct 14, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@nbc11news.com

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Greeley, Colo. (AP) A Greeley woman faces animal cruelty charges after she killed her sick dog by shooting it several times because she says she couldn't afford to euthanize it.

Police say 33-year-old Paula Harding was crying Sunday when police arrived at her house, saying she'd shot the dog because she “couldn't deal with it anymore.”

Police say Harding first tried to kill the 15-year-old terrier/poodle mix by giving it as many as five anti-anxiety pills saturday. Harding allegedly gave the dog more pills the next day but later shot it four times with a .22-caliber handgun because the medication didn't kill it.

Harding is free on a $5,000 personal recognizance bond.

Harding called the dog “a good friend” but says financial problems prevented her from affording a veterinarian.

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Posted by: Joan Location: Delta on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:52 AM
I bet Lori is for gun control. What do you think people did prior to the chemical cotktail that is now given animals? The lady with the dog might could have been a better aim but she did what she thought was best for an old friend. On the other hand the euthanesia does not always work with the first shot, I recently had a horse put down and the first shot did not work it took two. A bullet to the brain could have been more humane.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 07:40 AM
Why hasn't there been anything in the news about the torture and mutilation of a cat on the campus of Grand Junction High School? My Granddaughter is a student at GJHS, informed about this situation yesterday,it happened this past week.

Posted by: Ron Location: Fruita on Oct 9, 2008 at 07:42 AM
It was a 15 year old dog. It is quite obvious that she took very good care of the animal for a very long time. Do you actually think that the needle is more kind than a bullet. Maybe she should have been arrested for not having enough money to pay the Vet, or for keeping the dog well past the average life span of dogs. Use a little common logical sense and Get a clue! This is the exact ideology that is ruining our nation and allowing government to grow bigger and bigger. Try finding someone who is actually cruel to animals and arrest them.

Posted by: Brett Location: Mesa, Co on Oct 9, 2008 at 07:10 AM
I had to put a dog down last year he was what I would consider to be my best friend. I took him the Vet because I have the finacial means. If her dog was suffering she did a noble cause as far as I am concerned. After all the boy in "Old Yeller" was not jail for putting his sick dog down! Euthanizing an animal is hard and humane. Animals are shot every year during hunting season and no one goes to jail for that.

Posted by: Lori Location: Grand Junction on Oct 8, 2008 at 12:54 PM
I am a parent and I have animals. I would never be so cruel. Can you imagine how that poor dog felt as he was being shot?

Posted by: Rod Location: Grand junction on Oct 8, 2008 at 11:29 AM
We can only hope that Lori is not nor will ever be a parent. Her psychosis might be inherent.

Posted by: Larry Location: Grand Junction on Oct 8, 2008 at 08:02 AM
What a tragedy. This women loved her dog so much she did the right thing - putting it out of its misery. To punish her for simply doing what had to be done will only serve to compound the heartbreak that she is suffering now. Where is it written that only a veternarian can put an animal down. Come on folks - get real and leave this women alone. She has enough to deal with.

Posted by: Lori Location: Grand Jct on Oct 8, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Some people shouldn't have animials or be parents. If her parents couldn't afford her, does that give them the right to shoot her? Animals depend on us for care, there were other options. She should be shot.