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East Texas Deputy Who Shot Dog Surrenders License

RAINS COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) -- A former East Texas sheriff's deputy who shot a dog in April has agreed to give up his law enforcement license. In exchange, the Rains County District Attorney is dismissing an animal cruelty charge.

Deputy Jarrod Dooley was responding to a burglary call at home in April when he was approached by a blue heeler, Candy.  Dooley felt threatened and shot the dog.

"I held her head in a bucket that I had, and I put water in the bucket, and I drowned her," said Middleton. "That's all I could do. It's awful; I know…And believe me, I would never do that to my baby."

Dooley admitted in court that he shot another dog, a rottweiler, in January because he "feared bodily injury". He said the fear came from being bitten by a dog during a previous job.

"I now recognize that my previous history has left me with an excessive fear of another dog bite," said Dooley in a statement. "I also recognize that the normal duties of a peace officer require being in the presence of dogs on a regular basis."

Dooley also apologized to Middleton for shooting his dog. By surrendering his license, he will never be able to again serve as a peace officer.

The sheriff's department received numerous threats following the shooting, resulting in the termination of Dooley.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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