Ohio man defends family with gun after home invader shoots his dog

The Ashtabula Star-Beacon is reporting that Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department deputies are looking for a man who shot a Monroe Township dog, burst into a home and then evaded the owner's return gunfire early Monday morning.

From the story:

Deputies were called to the Michael Hommes Jr., residence at 4784 School St., around 3:26 a.m., Robison said. Hommes, 24, and his 21-year-old girlfriend told deputies the dog became agitated and was running to windows in the home.

Hommes let the dog outside and soon heard three gun shots, he told deputies. Hommes grabbed a large-caliber pistol and moments later heard the sound of his back door being kicked in, deputies said.

Investigating, he found a man standing inside his home, deputies said.

Hommes fired at the man, who ran from the house and then fled the scene in a white, four-door Buick sedan, according to reports.

The report goes on to say the dog, a German shepherd, was shot three times but survived the attack. It's believed the animal was shot with a .45 caliber pistol.

The owner wasn't injured, and deputies are unsure if the other man was wounded.

Under Ohio's Castle Doctrine law, if someone unlawfully enters an occupied home or temporary habitation, or occupied car, citizens have an initial presumption that they may act in self defense, and will not be second-guessed by the State.

Additional Information:
Dog Takes Bullet to Save Family

A german shepherd named Sirus is credited with saving his family after a terrifying home invasion.

Sirus' owner said he always lets her know when someone shows up at her home outside Conneaut in Ashtabula County.

Michelle Pryor said early Monday morning Sirus began barking so she let him out and was stunned when she heard gunfire outside the home.

Sirus got shot in the chest and on the muzzle between his eyes.

As the dog lain wounded, Michelle hid her baby daughter in a laundry basket and alerted her fiance, who grabbed his gun.

The gunman kicked in the front door of the home, and was confronted by Pryor's fiance.

She said, "He grabbed his gun and just started shooting and they ran."

The veterinarian who treated Sirus was amazed that he survived.

Michelle Pryor believes her dog took bullets that could have been fired at her family.

She told Fox 8 News, "I couldn't believe it, he saved our lives, he's our guardian angel, he saved my baby."

As for a motive for shooting Sirus and breaking into the house, Pryor said she had just cashed a tax refund check and believes she was followed home.