A Salina man was served a notice to appear in municipal court after allegedly shooting a neighbor’s dog Tuesday afternoon.

Captain Mike Sweeney tells KSAL News that Tommy Smith, 49 of 917 N. 13th was protecting his chickens from a dog owned by 56-year-old Benny Hancock.

Police say the dog was on the loose and was trying to break through a fenced area to attack Smith’s chickens.

Smith fired a .22 caliber rifle and hit the dog behind the right shoulder.

Staff from the Salina Animal Shelter took the dog to a vet and is reportedly doing okay. Smith was ticketed for unlawful discharge of a firearm while Hancock was cited for allowing the dog to run at large, trespass and no proof of licence and pet vaccination.

Captain Sweeney says chickens can be kept within city limits and Smith was not breaking any laws for raising the birds at his home.