Dog was Mark'd for death (Kennedy Klan)

The Boston Herald ^ | 7 May 2004 | Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa

[54-46 Was My Number]

History shows that hanging around the Kennedy clan can be hazardous to one's health and the latest victim is a poor, innocent hunting dog named Lefty, accidentally shot to death by Maria Shriver's brother, Mark!

The champion English springer spaniel was shot and killed during a hunting trip near Gettysburg, Pa., the Washington Post reports. Officials at the private hunting preserve called Shriver a ``very sloppy hunter'' who did ``unsafe things'' and banned him from ever hunting there again.

But Shriver, who paid the dog's heartbroken owner $9,500 in compensation, told the Post the dog's death was a ``tragic accident.''

``I provided full monetary compensation and it was a sad incident for me as well,'' he said. ``I've known dogs my entire life and it was very, very sad.''

According to the newspaper, Shriver, brother-in-law of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, was hunting at a preserve called Hill Country as a guest of a member.

The hunting guide, David Roesler, told the Post he was wary of Shriver, a former Maryland state rep, after he ``had a misfire'' shortly after the hunt got under way.

Not long afterward, Roesler said, real tragedy struck: Lefty was flushing a bird when Shriver shot the dog with his 12-gauge, leaving a fist-size wound.

Roesler - brother-in-law of Lefty's owner, Kris Pederson - rushed to try to help the fallen animal.

``I knew there was nothing I could do,'' the guide told the Post. ``It hit him in the rib cage . . . exactly where his heart is.''

Shriver apologized profusely but the guide was furious: ``There was nothing I could say. I was bawling my eyes out, I was so mad.''

Shriver, 40, a sometime Hyannisport resident, claims he is an experienced hunter.

But he did not return the Track's call.

File under: Dog Gone.

[54-46 Was My Number]

I've been an upland hunter for 10 years now, and I know for a fact that you've got to be a complete EFFING MORON in order to do this.

[54-46 Was My Number]

Boink!

[gathersnomoss]

Liberal "put some ice on it" BS. Just write a check and everything is OK.

[CasearianDaoist]

Me too, it is almost impossible for even a mediocre hunter. He is lucky that no person got shot. The arrogance of this clan is something to behold.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Imagine Maria Shriver in 35 years. Ugly, old and mindless. Ouch!

[ikka]

Correct me if I am wrong... but the dog is on the ground, the birds go up into the air, then you shoot at the birds while they are flying. So this kind of shot is roughly equivalent to not being able to hit the broad side of a barn at 50 paces.

[Bahbah]

I suggest the Governor not hunt with this noodle head again.

[superiorslots]

If you ever happen to be with a Kennedy around water or guns, run like the wind!!

[rod1]

Calling PETA!!

Oh wait--this is a liberal mistreating animals.
Never mind.

[54-46 Was My Number]

Me too, it is almost impossible for even a mediocre hunter. He is lucky that no person got shot. The arrogance of this clan is something to behold.

Unless the dog was leaping in the air after a just-flushed bird, which it probably wasn't given the dog was a pure-bred, trained hunting dog, this means the idiot was getting ready to shoot at a bird on the ground. You're exactly correct: he's lucky it was "only" a dog he shot.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You have the basics down pat.

Never, never fire below the horizon.

[BadAndy]

Right you are Ken. Springers are trained to flush birds about 20-30 feet in front of the hunter. They are always moving,unlike pointers that freeze when they are near a bird. To hit a moving springer in the chest at that range by accident seems unlikely. But this guy is a Kennedy, bizzare deaths follow them around like a shadow.

[54-46 Was My Number]

Correct me if I am wrong... but the dog is on the ground, the birds go up into the air, then you shoot at the birds while they are flying. So this kind of shot is roughly equivalent to not being able to hit the broad side of a barn at 50 paces.

The dog's on the ground, he's pointing the bird, watching, waiting for it to flush or run. At this point you're watching where the dog's looking, getting ready to mount your gun and swing and shoot when the bird takes wing.

This is the equivalent of---pardon the expression---"firing your gun" while she's still taking off her clothes.

[54-46 Was My Number]

Never, never fire below the horizon.

Absolutely correct. Notice how the story said this hack had had a "misfire" earlier that day? A C-note says this moron probably walks around with his finger on the trigger and the safety off so he can be the first to fire.

[csvset]

The hunting guide, David Roesler, told the Post he was wary of Shriver, a former Maryland state rep, after he ``had a misfire'' shortly after the hunt got under way.

An omen if there ever was one.

[Born Conservative]

Was this a photo op gone bad for Shriver? Dem politicians seem to like to have their pic taken with a shotgun; I guess they think they will garner the NRA vote by doing this. It's a shame that a Springer had to lose it's life because of this moron. Springers are awesome dogs.

[Labyrinthos]

Correct me if I am wrong... but the dog is on the ground, the birds go up into the air, then you shoot at the birds while they are flying. So this kind of shot is roughly equivalent to not being able to hit the broad side of a barn at 50 paces.

He had the gun aimed to where the dog was working to maximize the shooting zone once the bird emerged from the brush. Whether he accidently pulled the trigger or was shooting as the bird remains to be seen. Either way, he's an idiot and his conduct was extremely foul.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This turd obviously doesn't understand gun safety or appreciate hunting and working with a bird dog. Someone needs to take his shotgun away from him and throw it in the nearest pond.

[Onelifetogive]

This was NO accident.....

This poor animal, just like Marilyn and Mary Jo, realized too late what happens when you get into a sexual relationship with a member of the Kennedy clan.....

[Labyrinthos]

And by the end of the weekend, Roy Black will emerge as the head of Shriver's legal team and he'll hold a press conference and blame the dog.