Hello All, my name is Robert Jefferson and I'm looking for the public's support in lieu of my current municipal case vs. the PA Commonwealth. In January of this year my cocker spaniel was pulled from out of my back yard under a gate into my neighbor's back yard by their 2 pitbulls and was being mauled to death (click here to see the Ch.10 news coverage of my story... <a href="http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Dog-Attack-Cocker-Spaniel-Pit-Bulls-Philadelphia-Shooting-Reckless-Endangerment-Neighbor-Self-Defense-373310191.html">http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Dog-Attack-Cocker-Spaniel-Pit-Bulls-Philadelphia-Shooting-Reckless-Endangerment-Neighbor-Self-Defense-373310191.html</a>). I first went into the back yard screaming hysterically hoping the pitbulls would stop and my neighbors would come out into the yard and stop the attack but they didn't initially. So in an act of desperation I grabbed my legally owned firearm, went into the back yard and fired several warning shots in the air in an attempt to distract the pitbulls from attacking my dog. My neighbor eventually came into the yard once she heard the shots but was too scared of her own dogs to pull them away to stop the attack. After firing another round of warning shots in the air the pitbulls finally stopped and ran into my neighbor?s house. While my cocker spaniel's laying in their yard bleeding I first asked my neighbor if the pitbulls were secured in the house then once she confirmed they were I jumped over the gate into their yard and grabbed my dog. I rushed him into the bathroom to put him under the shower to see where he was bleeding from but before I got a chance get him to the hospital the cops came to my house and arrested me for reckless endangerment and possession of an instrument of crime with an intent to harm a person" even though my firearm was legal and I clearly wasn't trying to hurt anyone or anything. It turns out that my neighbor who owned the pitbulls called the cops to report the incident right after it happened and then filed a stay away order against me. When the detectives came they took my dog to animal control and did nothing with my neighbor's pitbulls despite knowing they just attacked another dog and had blood all over them. Even now in the aftermath, it's still not safe for me to put my cocker spaniel back in the yard because my neighbor still hasn't done anything to secure the gate and prevent their dogs from breaching my yard. I've called animal control and asked for help but they've done nothing but send me a request for $40 to purchase an annual dog license. I'm a 32 year old Penn State graduate with no prior arrest record but now I'm facing a possible conviction. Until yesterday I was a full-time Uber driver, but was deactivated from the system because of my arrest. My only objective was to save my dog's life without harming my neighbor's dogs or anyone else in the process which I actually accomplished. When the detectives came they told me that I should've gunned down the 2 pitbulls to save my dog and I wouldn't have been arrested but that would've been animal cruelty in my opinion and also would have instigated animosity from my neighbor at which point I would've been fearful of my own safety moving forward, not to mention I could've accidentally shot my neighbor if she suddenly attempted to intervene during the attack. I already have legal representation but I'm petitioning the public in hopes I would have support in requesting that my case be dismissed entirely so I can resume my life. Thank you all for your time and God Bless.
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