Hunter Admits to Shooting a Dog After Mistaking It for a Wolf
Weeks after the fatal shooting of a dog during a walk in Peille, in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France, a hunter has confessed to being responsible. The man told authorities he had mistaken the animal for a wolf and reacted out of fear.
A 55-year-old man turned himself in at the local gendarmerie last week, admitting to the shooting of a seven-year-old Czechoslovakian Wolfdog on February 17, 2025. The dog, named Aslan, had been walking with his owner near Mont-Agel when he was killed.
The case had gone viral on social media, as Aslan’s owner sought justice and tried to identify the person responsible.
A Fatal Mistake
According to reports from Nice-Matin, the man was hunting with his son when they encountered the animal in an area known to have wolf activity. The hunter claimed that he believed it was a wolf and initially fired a warning shot to scare it away. However, as the animal continued running in his direction and that of his son, he fired a second shot, which proved fatal.
Aslan’s owner later described hearing her dog scream before finding him lifeless. A veterinary examination later confirmed that the dog had been struck by more than a hundred lead pellets.
A Licensed Hunter
The hunter, who legally owned a registered 12-gauge shotgun, held a valid hunting license and had no previous incidents on record. The hunting season for large game had ended on January 12, meaning only bird hunting was still permitted in the Peille area.
This led to questions about why such a mistake occurred. Speaking to local media, Cyril Piazza, the mayor of Peille and president of the local hunting association, expressed his anger.
“There is no possible confusion between a bird and a dog,” he said in an interview with BFM. “If it turns out that this person is a member of the Peille hunting society, he will never be allowed to hunt here again. I will not accept hunters behaving like this.”
Legal and Community Repercussions
Aslan’s owner has filed a complaint on behalf of three animal welfare organizations and has not ruled out legal action against the regional hunting federation.
For now, authorities are organizing a mediation session between the shooter and Aslan’s owner. However, the incident has reignited debates about hunting regulations and animal safety, with many questioning whether stricter controls should be implemented to prevent similar tragedies.
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