WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsFamily Pets Shot: Man Accused of Drinking Case of Beer Beforehand

Family Pets Shot: Man Accused of Drinking Case of Beer Beforehand

Eau Claire (WQOW) - Investigators say a Chippewa County man claims he drank at least a case of beer before he shot their family pets in front of his kids.

On Tuesday, Raymond Knez Jr. was charged with reckless endangerment and mistreatment of animals, among other things.

The criminal complaint says two of his dogs got into a fight last Tuesday night at his home in Boyd. Investigators say that upset his girlfriend so Knez told her he'd take care of it. Over the course of the next 11 hours, he claims he drank anywhere from 26 to 29 cans of beer. Investigators say he even went to a bar and talked with people there whether he could legally shoot his pets.

The complaint says he returned home early Wednesday morning and rounded up two dogs and four cats and then shot them in what he claims was in "the best interest of the family."

After it happened, one of his kids didn't want to go to school because they were so upset about what happened. The complaint says Raymond's girlfriend told the child that was ok as along as they cleaned up the dead animals. The department of human services is now taking care of the children.