Texas Firefighter Causes Viral Controversy with Dead Dogs Photo
A Facebook post with an image of two dead dogs allegedly shot by a Texas fireman has caused a viral uproar on the social network.
Tim Conatser, a volunteer firefighter with Union Valley Fire Department in Royse City, posted an image on Facebook (seen below...WARNING: Graphic content) of two dead dogs.
Facebook user Kimberly Jones uploaded a screenshot of the post, which has been shared more than 62,000 times in less than a day.
The fire department shared this message earlier Wednesday:
As previously stated, we do not condone the recent actions of one of our firefighters. We are following our policy in removing him from our department. This is now a civil/criminal matter that we have no jurisdiction over. Please forward all concerns to local law enforcement and/or the SPCA.
So far, the owner of the dogs has not come forward publicly.
CBS 11 in Dallas reports it spoke with Kevin Forester, a family friend of Conatser. Forester told CBS 11 that Conatser found the dogs in his barn a few days earlier attacking his calf and recognized they were his neighbor's dog.
“So he went over to his neighbor’s and told him that his dogs was getting in his barn and attacking his animals, to please ya know keep ‘em at home, put ‘em on a leash, build a fence, do something,” Forester told the TV station.
Forester said Conatser told him the neighbor didn't care. No one has yet to speak directly with Conatser or the neighbor, however.
The Hunt County Herald Banner reported an investigation is under way, with Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks taking the report of the incident and Constable Terry Jones will conduct the investigation.
The SPCA is also working with authorities in the investigation.
You can see the image below, and be warned that this might be uncomfortable for some. Please use discretion. Also be sure to watch a news report about this whole controversy.