Former Utah city councilman charged after shooting a second dog while intoxicated

Former Tabiona, Utah city councilman Rickey Evin Wilberg was charged yesterday with possession of a firearm by a restricted person, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, intoxication and discharge of a firearm after he was arrested on February 6, 2013 in the shooting of his dog. Michael McFall of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that someone in the area heard gunfire and called 911, and Wilberg allegedly told the responding officers that he'd shot his dog twice. Officers then reportedly noticed a marijuana pipe and that Wilberg smelled of alcohol, and said that, upon request, Wilberg showed them his marijuana in a prescription bottle and was arrested.

This is not Wilberg's first arrest related to a dog-shooting: he was forced to resign from the city council in 2011 after shooting his neighbor's teacup chihuahua puppy, Rocky. Wilberg told police that he'd been drinking vodka at the time of the shooting and was annoyed by the puppy's barking. He was charged with intoxication and animal cruelty, a felony, in the case, but pled to a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge and paid restitution to his neighbor.

When Wilberg was arrested in 2011, Geoff Liesik of the Uintah Basin Standard reported that he owned several daschunds. News reports do not indicate what breed of dog Wilberg allegedly shot in this case.

["Dachshund Dog Looking Up" on Shutterstock]