Warning: Graphic details that some readers will find upsetting.
A New York hunter was arrested after he killed and skinned a family's two dogs after he allegedly believed they were coyotes.
Michael Konschak was arrested back in February following an investigation into the killing and skinning of two German shepherds that had escaped their yard in Ridgefield, Connecticut, in November 2021. The dogs were able to escape their family's backyard after the surrounding fence of their home became damaged.
The family of the missing dogs spent weeks looking for them, even handing out flyers, as well as using their social media to raise awareness about the issue. Unfortunately, they didn't have any luck in finding the pets.
It wasn't until they were sent a snapshot of the dead animals - after they had allegedly been taken to a professional taxidermist by Konschak - that they realized they would never see their beloved pups again.
Lieben and Cimo, both 10 years old, were seen by Konschak who was out in the area hunting deer. Using a crossbow, the hunter killed the pets in what he described as a "split second" decision.
Last Wednesday, when appearing at the Danbury Superior Court in Connecticut, the 61-year-old hunter claimed that it was never his intention to kill the dogs.
"Please know that it was never my intent that morning to harm the victims' pets," Konschak told the court, also alleging that he mistook the pets for coyotes, which are legal to hunt in the state.
His lawyer, Brian Romano, also described the tragic incident as a "hunting accident," as per a report published by the Associated Press.
According to PEOPLE, Konschak was initially arrested in February after a lengthy investigation by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection charged him with tampering with evidence, forgery, interfering with a law enforcement officer, and other hunting violations.
Danbury State's Attorney David R. Applegate said the incident was still under investigation and more charges could be possible. Animal rights activists are also pushing for authorities to charge the man with further animal cruelty charges.
Erin Caviola, the owner of the two German shepherds said that her family was devastated over how the pets were treated, as per the AP.
"We live with the emotional pain as we think about what they felt in their final moments lying beside each other dying," she said, also adding that the dogs' heads were removed and are still unaccounted for.
Applegate slammed Konschak's recalling of events, also revealing that a taxidermist had told the alleged perpetrator that the animals weren't coyotes and that they were in fact dogs.
Konschak is set to appear in court next month.
