Teens' Firecracker Kills Dog In Auburn

AUBURN - An Auburn family's pet dog is dead after a large firecracker ignited by one of three youths exploded in the dog's mouth, killing it instantly, say Auburn Police.

The three youths, one 18-year-old and two 16-year-olds, were arrested late yesterday for investigation of cruelty to animals in an incident about 6 p.m. in the 1200 block of 57th Drive Southeast in Auburn.

The 16-year-olds were released, but the 18-year-old remained in the Auburn Jail today, according to Auburn Police Lt. Bob Almy.

One of the 16-year-olds told police that he and the 18-year-old were lighting firecrackers when a brown dog appeared and started picking them up.

When the small firecrackers exploded in the dog's mouth, the animal acted as if it had been stung by a bee, the 16-year-old told police.

The youths attempted to walk the dog away from the area, the animal returned, the 16-year-old told police.

Then, the 18-year-old ignited an M-80 firecracker and tried to stuff it into a small hole in a street manhole cover. The dog pawed the M-80 out of the hole and put it in its mouth.

The firecracker exploded, killing the 8-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever named Kelsie.

One boy put on gloves and dragged the dog out of the street and into a nearby field and started cleaning the road off, the 16-year old told police.

A person who worked in the area called police, who found the teens and arrested them.

The couple who owned the dog had been on a bike ride when their pet somehow got out of the house, police said.

"It's pretty devastating at our house right now. It's a total shock for us," said owner Kevin Chevalier.

"I'll never approach fireworks the same again. In fact, I'll never have them in my house again."

The dog was like a member of the family. Chevalier said his two boys, ages 10 and 13, were close to Kelsie.

"It (the dog) represents the bulk of my kids' lives," he said. "She's just one of those things that's always been there, just part of the family. She's the kind of dog that always wants to be near you."

The Chevaliers say they do not know the suspects in the killing. The incident happened near the Chevaliers' home.

Auburn Police Lt. Almy said he doesn't recall any previous incidents in which an animal was killed by fireworks.

"Cruel is the best way I can describe it," he said.

"Maybe it would be different if it had been a one-time thing, but they were teasing the dog right along."