Wed, January 28, 2026 at 9:42 PM UTC
The Brief
A St. Pete man was arrested after investigators say he shot and killed a dog in his neighborhood Monday morning, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
Deputies say a black Labrador retriever was found dead at the end of a driveway on 46th Street North.
Edgar Surber, 76, told investigators he was “scared for his safety” when he saw a dog walking toward him across the street. He admitted to shooting the dog in the head after it began barking at him from a few feet away, according to PCSO.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A St. Petersburg man is facing an animal cruelty charge after investigators say he shot and killed a dog in his neighborhood Monday morning, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
The backstory
The affidavit says shortly after 9 a.m., a PCSO deputy responded to a home on 46th Street North, finding a dead black Labrador retriever lying at the end of a driveway.
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Courtesy: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Edgar Surber, 76, told investigators he was “scared for his safety” when he saw a dog walking toward him across the street. He did not try to walk away or distance himself from the dog, according to the affidavit.
Dig deeper
After being told his Miranda rights, Surber admitted he shot the dog in the head after it began barking at him from a few feet away, PCSO said.
Surber was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty. He was released on bond Tuesday morning.
The Source
Information for this story was provided by a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.