Yacolt man planning to shoot feral cat accidentally shoots self

A Yacolt man allegedly planning to shoot a feral cat ended up shooting himself in the foot Thursday afternoon, officials said.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office and North Country EMS responded to a reported accidental shooting at 28716 N.E. Sunset Falls Road. just after 5:30 p.m. Thursday. A man called 911 to report his son had shot himself in the foot, according to emergency radio traffic monitored at The Columbian.

Deputies found Steven Dozier, 35, at the address with a gunshot wound to the left foot, said Sgt. Fred Neiman, sheriff’s office spokesman.

Dozier went outside the home and was attempting to load a .22-caliber, semi-automatic rifle when it discharged into his foot. Dozier told deputies he was going to shoot at a feral cat that has been running around their place, Neiman said.

Dozier was transported by North Country EMS to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

Neiman said it is legal to shoot an animal that is interfering with livestock or causing problems on your property. He suggests people call Clark County Animal Control to deal with domesticated animals or the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for wild ones.

There are no pending charges, Neiman said.