Tyler M. McKeon

BAY CITY, MI -- A Pinconning man is accused of using two guns to fatally shoot a dog, claiming the dog was interfering with his deer hunting.

The afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 20, police responded to a farm in the 2400 block of East Erickson Road in Fraser Township. The farm's owners, Jeffrey and Denise Pickvet, had called 911 to report they believed their dog Tippy, a Labrador/pit bull mix, had been shot.

Jeffrey Pickvet told police he was outside when he heard a shot, followed by his dog yelping. He called for Tippy, then heard several more shots, court records show.

Police said the Pickvets found Tippy dead, lying in a wooded area a few hundred yards west of the farm, court records show. He had been shot multiple times.

Blood spots indicated he initially was shot about 41 yards from a raised hunting blind, court records show. Inside the blind, police found a shell casing from a 9 mm Luger.

Police described the weather as clear and sunny, with high visibility, according to reports in court documents.

Denise Pickvet told police she observed a man walking to the roadway carrying a gun shortly after hearing the shots. She asked him if he had shot her dog, to which he replied he only shot a deer, court records show.

The man then entered a black 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and drove off, flipping off the Pickvets as he did so, they told police. The Pickvets followed him in their truck and confronted him a second time. He again denied having shot a dog, court records show.

The Pickvets went home and called 911. They added they have "No Trespassing" signs on their property, court records show.

Police linked the Chevrolet to 33-year-old Tyler McKeon, whose home they visited.

"All right, I shot him," McKeon allegedly told police after they told him what they knew.

He added he shot Tippy because dogs have been chasing deer on his property for the past two years and Tippy, in particular, had been hanging around his blind all morning, court records show.

McKeon said he shot Tippy with a muzzleloader, then shot him again with a handgun, court records show.

He said he previously spoke with the Pickvets and asked them to control their dogs. He added he had called Bay County Animal Control, and staff there told him to "take care of the dog," court records show.

Police again spoke with the Pickvets, who denied having spoken with McKeon about their dogs. Animal Control records also show no complaints from McKeon or anyone else about the Pickvets' dogs, court records show.

Authorities issued a warrant for McKeon's arrest Monday, Jan. 25, coincidentally the same day the Humane Society of Bay County hosted a town hall in Bay City about how to recognize and report animal abuse.

McKeon on Tuesday appeared for arraignment in Bay County District Court on one count of killing or torturing an animal. That is a felony punishable by up to four years' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.

McKeon is represented by Bay City attorney Matthew L. Reyes, who said the dog was killed on property owned by his client's father.

"Obviously, our thoughts on this is it's an unfortunate situation where a dog is killed in a hunting accident, and that's what this is," Reyes said. "Unfortunately, the animal was on private property that was being legally hunted, and sometimes there are hunting accidents. I think once all the facts and circumstances come out, that will be clear and we'll be able to move forward."

Denise Pickvet, speaking with The Times, said Tippy was 2 1/2 years old. The couple has two other dogs on their 38-acre ranch.

She said Tippy was shot a total of five or six times.

"He was a very loving dog," Pickvet said. "He was always taking care of everyone. He would make sure my in-laws, who are in their late 80s, would get back in the house when they came outside. If one of the horses or pigs got out, he would tell us. He loved everyone. He was a one-of-a-kind dog that had his own personality. He would talk to you, and if he wanted something, he would get your attention and show you."

She added she doesn't believe McKeon killed Tippy by accident.

McKeon is free on personal recognizance bond. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary examination at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9.