Dispute Leaves Puppy, Pit Bull Dead

 A dispute involving the owner of a puppy and the owner of a pit bulldog has left both dogs dead and one of the owners facing possible charges.

The Hardin County Sheriff's Office says 33 year old William Curtis Smith admits killing the puppy, but Smith claims it was in retaliation for the shooting death of his pit bulldog.

Smith was arrested on an unrelated warrant. He has not been charged yet with killing the puppy.

Abbie Williams is on spring break from her school in Kountze. She enjoys playing with her dog, Daisy, a half Golden Lab and Shar-Pei.

Daisy looks like the family's four month old puppy, Tiny.

"There was actually a whole trail of blood leading out the driveway here and out into the front yard," said Jeff Williams.

Jeff Williams explains what he saw Thursday night when Williams and his family came home from Abbie's softball practice, expecting to see Tiny outside.

"We pulled up in the driveway and saw the dog laying there in a pool of blood and she was dying, and I tried to nurse her as much as I could and realized she wasn't going to make it and she was suffering, said Williams.

Williams approached his neighbor, William Curtis Smith, and asked him if he'd heard any gunshots.

"He said, 'yeah, I shot your dog and I'd shoot you, too.' And I said 'are you threatening me?' He said, 'yes I am.' I said 'that dog's just a puppy.' He said, 'I don't care.' So I climbed in my truck and came back over here and called police."

Williams believes Smith killed his puppy out of vengeance because Williams shot Smith's pit bulldog.

"I had to take care of things that way, and I hate to do it, but I was in fear for my wife and my kids and myself," said Williams.

Williams says the pit bulldog wasn't chained in this backyard. He says several times it got loose in the neighborhood, menaced his family, and mauled another one if Williams' dogs.

You've just got to hope the Sheriff's Department takes care of everything. We don't want any disputes. We want everybody to get along," said Williams.

So that his daughter Abby can enjoy Daisy, without fear something will happen to the dog or her family

The Hardin County Sheriff's Office is deciding whether to charge Smith with animal cruelty and making a terroristic threat.