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Man arrested for shooting his dog in the face after dog was found running near landfill in Stark Co.

Stark County dog
Posted at 5:20 PM, Jan 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-23 14:38:04-05

STARK COUNTY, Ohio — A Massillon man has been arrested for allegedly shooting his dog, a 3-year-old German Shepherd named Zeus, in the face.

According to a news release from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Kevin James Fishburn was arrested and booked into the Stark County Jail on one count of prohibitions concerning companion animal, a felony.

An investigation revealed Fishburn, the dog’s owner, did shoot the dog. The case was presented to the Canton City Prosecutor’s Office, where a warrant was issued for Fishburn’s arrest.

The injured dog was found running near a landfill in Stark County last week by a good Samaritan who took the dog to a nearby veterinarian and split the cost of the dog’s care with a co-worker.

Stark County dog
Photo of the dog that was found with a gunshot wound to the face in Stark County Tuesday.

The dog was brought to the Soehnlen Veterinary Clinic, where Dr. Mike Sparling sedated him and dressed the wounds, said Dr. David Soehnlen. An x-ray revealed about 10 small bullet fragments in the dog’s lower jaw.

"From everything we see, the dog will make a full recovery, and doesn't even realize it was injured,” said Major CJ Stantz with the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.

Fishburn was released after posting a $2,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Canton Municipal Court on Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.

RELATED: Dog found shot in the face in rural area of Stark County expected to make a 'full recovery'