WASATCH COUNTY– Investigators said Monday they found reasonable suspicion of aggravated animal cruelty and recommended prosecutors file charges after a Midway family said their dog was shot and killed by a neighbor.
According to the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to a report that the dog had been shot shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday.
Aaron and Aimee Simpson, owners of 8-year-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Blue, told KSL 5 they received a call from their neighbor shortly after the shooting.
“Their story was that the neighbor came over. He had been there that morning and he was trying to get the dog to come out into the street by walking back and forth and riding his bike back and forth,” Aaron Simpson said during an interview Monday night. “And then at one point he came into the yard while our neighbor was out and she started yelling at him and he just came over, grabbed our dog, dragged him through the pumpkin patch to the side of the road, right into the bike path there next to a truck, pulled a gun out of his pants and shot him.”
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, officials have come to the preliminary conclusion that “there is reasonable suspicion that the individual in question illegally discharged a firearm within city limits and committed serious animal cruelty.”
The office said investigators would refer the case to the Wasatch County District Attorney for review.
“This incident is being taken very seriously,” Sheriff Jared Rigby said in the statement. “The safety of our community, including their animals, is our office’s highest priority. We are thoroughly investigating this incident to ensure all necessary actions are taken.”
According to the Simpsons, this was not the first argument with the neighbor because of the dog.
Aimee Simpson said neighbors had repeatedly observed the man taking photos of Blue as he walked the street and that he had also threatened to harm the dog about a year earlier.
“One day we got a call that the neighbor was trying to kill our dog,” Aaron Simpson said. “He came across the street with a sword – I don’t know exactly what kind, a samurai sword or something – but he came over on foot when our neighbor had her kids and grandkids in the front yard and our dog was there with her kids, and he started hitting the dogs.”
The couple said it was difficult to comprehend the situation.
“Why would you do something like that, especially when there are children around?” Aaron asked.
Aaron Simpson said he was worried about what might happen next now that Blue is gone.
“He was obsessed with our animal for so long,” Simpson said. “This is not normal, this is not rational behavior.”
Late Monday night, more neighbors came to the Simpsons’ home to show their support, some wrapping blue ribbons around fence posts and mailboxes.
The couple said they were devastated by the sudden loss of their dog.
“It took us 15 years to finally get a dog,” said Aimee Simpson. “We thought long and hard about what kind of dog we wanted, and we live in this Swiss town called Midway and decided to get a Swiss Mountain Dog. They’re related to the Bernese Mountain Dog and he’s been a really good pet.”
Aaron Simpson remembered Blue as the most sociable dog he ever had.
“He was just ready for anything,” he said. “He just thought everyone loved him.”
