Cops: Florida Man Shot His Dog To Death

SEPTEMBER 18--After his two-year-old dog attacked a new puppy he had brought home, a Florida Man shot the older canine to death with a weapon he retrieved from a gun cabinet, cops report.

According to a court affidavit, Shane Braley, 36, was “extremely intoxicated” last week when he executed the dog outside his home in Jensen Beach, an Atlantic Coast locale.

Investigators say Braley had brought the puppy, named Cotton, home earlier this month. The animal joined Braley’s 36-year-old wife, their four-year-old son (Mason), and the two-year-old dog (Dixon) in the residence.

On the day of the shooting, Braley put food into Dixon’s bowl, which prompted the puppy to look inside the receptacle. “This caused the dog Dixon to attack Cotton,” cops noted.

Braley, seen at right, subsequently picked Dixon up by the neck and put the dog on the back porch. He then allegedly “walked to the gun cabinet and removed a gun,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

Despite pleas from Braley’s wife that “it wasn’t necessary,” Braley “continued to walk outside where he shot Dixon.”

Upon returning inside, Braley argued with his wife and “then began to hit her in the face and arms.” The woman, who suffered bruises and welts during the confrontation, said Braley “had no emotion and ‘checked out’ when he retrieved the gun to shoot the dog.”

Braley was arrested and charged with domestic battery and killing his dog, both first-degree misdemeanors. Braley, who is free on $25,000 bond, today pleaded not guilty to both counts. He is scheduled for arraignment on October 5.

In a pretrial supervision order, a judge barred Braley from possessing firearms and residing "where there are pets." He is also prohibited from having any contact with the victim or his child.

In 2021, Braley pleaded no contest to a DUI charge and was placed on probation for a year. At the time of his arrest, Braley told cops he had been a “professional cyclist” for the last 20 years. (2 pages)