Justice For Keiser Shot To Death By Neighbor

  • by: Marsha S
  • recipient: Ted Miller- Chief of Police, City of Washington, IL Stewart J. Umholtz, Tazewell County State’s Attorney Mike Holly, Deferred Prosecution Administrator, Tazewell County

First off I want to start this off by saying. This wasn't a dog. He may look like a dog to you but your eyes are deceiving you. That is my baby! I may not be his birth mother but I was in love with him before I met him. He was my child and I lost him in such a brutal way in a town I thought was safe. On January 14th at about 8:30 am I started folding laundry. My husband let our two dogs outside to go potty and get some fresh air. He put them on their tie outs and went over to check something out on his truck. Shortly after going to his truck Keiser started barking, he was all excited about something, so Jerrod went over to calm him down and that's when he noticed our neighbor two doors down was outside with his dog and that's why Keiser was barking. My husband then proceeded to say loud enough so the man could hear "it's okay Keiser I'll let you in as soon as he's done and goes inside" my husband then turned around and went back to finish with his truck. As he was lifting the hood up on his truck (less then 30 seconds later) he heard (I heard it from inside) POP POP POP POP POP. At least 4 or 5 times. I hollered from the back room was that gunshots? My 4 year old (he's not afraid of guns because we are a hunting family) ran to me screaming. Less then a minute later my husband came in and hysterically said "he shot your dog the neighbor killed your dog"
Keiser had broken off his tie out. He didn't even make it to the mans property. Based off where he was shot we believe he may have been turning around to come back. The side he was shot in was the side facing away from the man. We only could find the one entrance wound. (No exit wound)
From the time my husband went to our dog til the moment he was shot he did not bark he did not growl. When my husband reached him he was whimpering and my husband watched him take his last few breaths.
My 4 year old was looking out the window when it happened and he seen his best friend on the ground. He watched his dad running and hollering across the yard to our baby, our family member. I burried my child yesterday. I promised him that I would fight for his justice. I'm ready to take on the legal system and hopefully have this mans right to carry a gun taken away from him! Please pray/send positive vibes to our family. Our three children, our lab and us have lost a very important member of our family, and our hearts are broken. Mommy loves you so much Keiser and I promise I will never let you be forgotten! Rip my sweet baby boy!


Early on Saturday, January 14, 2017, Keiser and his lab housemate, Daisy Mae, were put out on their leads in the backyard. Their owner, Jerrod Gladitsch, was doing some work on his truck in the driveway. He heard Keiser starting to bark, and within 30 seconds, heard gun shots ring out. He ran to check on the dogs. He found Keiser on the ground, shot dead. The police came - the neighbor who killed Keiser, a former Washington city council member, lives 2 doors away from the Gladitsch home. He told the officer that Keiser had broken free from his chain, and was growling and running toward him and his dog. He stated in the police report he fired 7 rounds at Keiser, who retreated back to his yard. The neighbor told the officer he has a conceal and carry permit, and always carries the hand gun with him as he was afraid of the dog. According to Jeff Stevens, deputy chief at the Washington Police Department, “He decided before the Rottweiler attacks him and his dog, he’s going to shoot it, and he did”, referring to the neighbor. The neighbor was not arrested or charged. We are asking that Felony Animal Cruelty charges be brought against the neighbor, and all other criminal charges that may be appropriate.

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