NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — A Nassau County woman has been arrested for felony animal cruelty for allegedly shooting a dog in the head with a crossbow bolt on May 16.
Carey Wilson, 37, was arrested May 27.
Thursday, she shared her story exclusively with Action News Jax.
“My goal was not to hit the dog directly,” Wilson said. “I was trying to scare it off.”
Nassau County animal control officers say the yellow lab- they’re calling Unicorn- is doing much better.
He has been treated for heartworms, and they said they’ll take applications for adoption once he clears certain medical hurdles.
Officers said the bolt ricocheted off Unicorn’s skull and just went through the skin, meaning he was incredibly lucky.
Wilson contends the dog was repeatedly in her fenced-in yard killing animals, even lunging toward her daughter who has mobility issues.
“The dog doesn’t want to leave, so I grabbed a crossbow, my intentions were not to kill the dog, but to try to get the message across, ‘Get out the yard,” Wilson said.
Animal control said the story doesn’t add up, saying it has received zero calls from her or from her Hilliard address.
>> Donation information for dog shot in the head with bow and arrow
The report states she told an officer she was tired of lying and admitted to shooting the dog with a crossbow.
It states the weapon was brought from Jacksonville, which animal control officers said speaks to premeditation.
It goes on ‘the dog was in the yard peeing on her car tire,’ and ‘was not being aggressive.’
“The police report calls you a liar,” Action News Jax Reporter Russell Colburn said to Wilson. “Why should people believe you?”
“My close people know who I am, they know the truth,” Wilson said.
Action News Jax also tracked down Unicorn’s former owner, who said he surrendered him to animal control because he couldn’t afford the medical bills after this.
“It’s rough,” Nick Sweat said. “We enjoyed the dog. He’s a good dog, he’s a family dog, wouldn’t hurt anybody.”
Wilson also admitted to Action News Jax she took things too far.
“It was extreme,” Wilson said. “I wish there was a different outcome.”
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