Manatee County man charged with fatally shooting the family dog in the head

A 42-year-old Manatee County man is facing multiple charges after fatally shooting the family dog twice in the head, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies say Michael James Harris “consumed a copious amount of vodka,’ on Monday afternoon. At around 4 p.m. he got in an argument with a family member inside the home in the 7600 block of 16th Street Court East.

A short time after the argument began, Harris left the resident and went into the backyard and shot the dog, according to the arrest warrant.

Deputies say Harris carried the dog’s body into a nearby wooded area and dropped it there. He then returned to the home where he got into another argument with a different family member over shooting the dog.

According to the warrant, Harris then threatened the family member’s life. He ran off when law enforcement was called.

An arrest warrant was issued the same day and Harris was located and taken into custody on April 20.

Deputies say the dog was in “great health,” was not vicious and had no illnesses.

Family members, including juveniles in the home, “became very emotionally distraught,” as the dog’s body was recovered from the woods, deputies say.

Harris was booked into the Manatee County jail on charges of felony animal cruelty, aggravated domestic violence with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He remains in custody on bonds totaling $30,000.

According to the warrant, Harris is a seven-time convicted felon.

He has served multiple terms in prison, according to the Florida Department of Corrections with prior convictions for burglary, possession of cocaine, drug dealing and grand theft.

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 2:16 PM.