Mills County Man Accused Of Killing Neighbor's Dog In Front Of Teens

A Mills County man is facing an animal abuse charge and four counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon after shooting and killing a dog in front of teenagers who were walking with the animal along a gravel road.

The incident occurred last month on Rains Ave. in southern Mills County, near U.S. Highway 275.

Investigators said the teens were walking the dog when Andrew Ethofer, 30,  pulled up and shot a rifle from his car, then got out of the vehicle and shot the dog several times before putting the animal in the trunk and driving away.
Mills County Attorney Tricia McSorley said the teens were frightened and horrified by the incident.

“The kids took cover in the ditch and hid behind a tree,” McSorley said. “They were really shaken up. It was their family pet.”

Ethofer allegedly buried the dog a couple miles away from where the animal was killed.

A preliminary hearing for Ethofer is scheduled for Thursday morning, Oct. 8, in Mills County District Court.