CANDIA, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man faces charges he assaulted a golden retriever known as the "Golden Ghost" for spending two years in the wild despite attempts to capture him.
The dog — whose name is Sam — was finally caught with the help of a boiled ham dinner and returned to his owners, Margaret and Dennis Sklarski of Deerfield. The couple had adopted Sam from a Tennessee shelter in 2004, but he escaped not long after they got him.
Last month, his owners were walking Sam when Scott Perdue, 37, of Candia allegedly picked up the dog and threw him to the ground, hurting Sam's shoulder. Perdue also is charged with threatening to kill Mrs. Sklarski.
The altercation apparently was triggered when Perdue's German shepherd jumped out of his vehicle and attacked Sam, said Candia police Sgt. Scott Gallagher.
He said the Sklarskis were walking Sam on a leash on April 24 near a street corner when an off-road vehicle approached. He said the vehicle was pulling a trailer carrying several children and a German shepherd, which jumped out of the trailer. He said Perdue allegedly got out and began cursing, grabbed Sam and threw him to the ground.
Gallagher said Perdue allegedly threatened to kill Mrs. Sklarski and told her to get out of his face.
The Sklarskis returned to their business and called police. They then returned to the area to try to locate the man and spotted Perdue turn into a driveway.
Police arrived to find them involved in another confrontation.
Perdue is charged with felony criminal threatening, misdemeanor threatening and animal cruelty.
He was released on $500 cash bail and faces arraignment June 4 in Auburn District Court.
