72 year old Gabe Pilotti of Pine Road , West Vincent Pa., was arrested yesterday by Chester County authorities and charged with killing two dogs that belonged to a neighbor. The dogs,Bernese Mountain Dogs,belonged to a neighbor and had gotten loose. The two, family pets, Argus and Finona ventured off their owners property and onto the Pilotti farm. The shooting happened on Feb 12. He was arrested on Feb 22.
In Pennsylvania, it is legal for farmers to kill dogs threatening livestock. That is what Pilotti was banking on. However, it appears he lied to the police who were called. As police re interviewed him the next day, Pilotti changed his story, admitting that he took a .20 gauge shotgun and shot one dog in the head,killing it instantly. That dog, was walking on his property, but was nowhere near his sheep. The second family pet was killed as she ran away, clearly posing no danger.
Pilotti is all but guaranteed to do time in prison, in spite of his age. In his confession: He used a gun to commit a crime. He lied to police in the hopes that his lies would throw them off his trail and allow him to go free. As he was shooting the dogs, an occupied house was nearby and could have been hit.
He was arrested by police and is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals and one count of reckless endangerment.. His attorney released a statement saying that Pilotti is remorseful and sorry. Many people in the community do not buy it. Pilotti did legally shoot two dogs prior that were attacking his sheep. That shooting was justified, as the sheep were injured. Police said that he had knowledge of the law and used it to lie his way out of this crime.
Pilotti is alleged to have said "I shoot first and ask questions later" when asked about what happened to the two pets.
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