(Photo: Provided by family) 
 
 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (WVEC) – A man who shot and killed his dog then buried her on the Oceanfront is facing animal abuse charges, but he says police have it wrong. For 15 years, Michael Whalen said Allie was his closest companion, but Cushing’s disease caused hardship towards the end. “I got her stable on her medication," Whalen explained. That was until late one early February morning when he said Allie started having uncontrollable seizures. “I gave my full testimony of what happened ‘This is what happened folks, I didn’t do anything wrong here and you’ve got to know the truth`,” Whalen said. Whalen then buried Allie at the 85th street beach and a resident found her, according to police. “It required my full attention to keep her airway open, to keep her from aspirating her vomit, to keep her from laying in her poop,” said Whalen. He has a court date in June and hopes his case will shed light on euthanasia rights.
– A Virginian man charged with animal cruelty for allegedly shooting his dog of 15 years says it was an act of kindness, not abuse, WTKR reports. Michael Whalen says his dog Allie was one of his best friends. "We did everything together," he says. Last year, Allie was diagnosed with Cushing's disease. Whalen says a vet offered to put her down, but neither he nor Allie were "ready" for that. Instead, he put Allie on medication. But early one morning in late January, Allie started having intense seizures, according to the Virginian-Pilot. Whalen says he didn't think he could get Allie to a 24-hour vet safely, so after 40 minutes he decided to end her misery. Whalen tells WVEC he thought shooting Allie would be a "painless, instantaneous" way for her to go. He says shooting his dog was "so emotionally disturbing" he still cries when he thinks about it. He buried Allie's body at a beach nearby because he says she used to like watching him surf, and he would wave to the spot when he walked by in the coming days. But a few weeks later, a passerby spotted Allie's partially buried body. Whalen was charged with animal cruelty and burying trash. Vets don't consider a gunshot an appropriate form of animal euthanasia. But Whalen says he's no animal abuser. “If your animal needs you, you gotta be there for her," he says. "You have a duty and obligation." A court date is set for June.