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Man charged with killing dog for urinating By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A Medford man was charged with animal abuse Wednesday after he allegedly shot and killed a friend's dog that urinated in his bedroom. Lawrence Lee Elmore, 35, of the 2000 block of Mills Drive, was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated first-degree animal abuse - a felony - and violating the conditions of a court protective order. On Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court, he was arraigned on a reduced charge of first-degree animal abuse, to which he pleaded not guilty. His bail was set at $50,000 and he remained in jail Wednesday night. "We're concerned that this person would be emotionally unstable and a danger to the community," said Medford police Sgt. Roy Skinner. "That's not normal behavior for people to shoot dogs in the head for urinating on the floor." Elmore told police he realized he did a stupid thing, Skinner said. Elmore was apparently taking care of the animal for a friend who was not allowed to have pets at her home. The brown and white short-haired dog - named Bailey - was rescued from a home where it had been abused, Elmore's roommate Ron Santos said. But Elmore neglected the dog, which was starved for attention and affection, and didn't let it in the house for long periods of time, Santos said. Elmore had spent a night drinking at a local bar when he shot the dog in his bedroom around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Santos said. Police said Elmore put a 20-gauge shotgun to the dog's head, apparently after the animal urinated on the floor, said "How brave do you feel now?" and pulled the trigger, believing the weapon was not loaded. Santos said he was half-asleep when he heard the shot and Elmore yelling "Oh, my god!" Santos said he got out of bed and found the dog in the corner of Elmore's room, adding that he was so upset by the sight that he was unable to call police until a few hours later. When police arrested Elmore, they seized the shotgun, four small-caliber rifles, a small-caliber revolver and derringer from the residence. Elmore is not allowed to possess firearms under conditions of a stalking protection order granted to a former girlfriend in April. Santos said he didn't know most of the weapons were in the house. He evicted Elmore following his arrest and filed a court no-contact order against him. Jackson County Animal Control removed the dog from Santos' home Wednesday afternoon. Elmore - who was convicted in 1997 of possessing methamphetamine, in addition to previous convictions of driving under the influence of intoxicants - will appear in a pre-trial hearing on the animal abuse charges on Nov. 26. Skinner said police hope Elmore will undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.