This is an update to an older story:

Federal officer given probation before judgment in “Bear Bear” dog shooting
weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Federal police officer Keith Elgin Shepherd was given probation before judgment today for shooting a Siberian husky he claimed was attacking his pet and threatening him and his wife at a community dog in Severn.

Anne Arundel County District Court Judge Thomas J. Pryal said he would convict Shepherd, 32, on charges of misdemeanor animal cruelty and discharging his personal handgun within 100 yards of homes in the Quail Run neighborhood, but offered Shepherd probation before judgment, which means Shepherd will have the chance to have his record expunged if he meets the terms of his probation.

Pryal fined Shepherd $500 for the animal cruelty charge, and gave him a suspended fine of $1,000 on the handgun charge.

Now imagine what would happen to one of us if we got into an argument at a dog park and shot someones dog.