Man pleads guilty in shooting of Overland Park therapy dog

A Belton man pleaded guilty Friday to breaking into an Overland Park home last year and shooting the owner’s dog.

Matthew Oden waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Johnson County District Court and pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, theft of a firearm and cruelty to animals.

Oden, 33, admitted to breaking into a house last October in the 6600 block of West 132nd Terrace and stealing a firearm.

The owner returned later and found that his dog Meeko had been shot in the face. Meeko survived.

The 8-year-old golden retriever-cocker spaniel mix is trained to provide therapy for nursing home residents.

Oden also pleaded guilty to tampering with the GPS device placed on him to monitor him while on bond last December. His bond was revoked after that incident and he was taken back into custody in January.

Sentencing for Oden is scheduled for May 27.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 3:17 PM with the headline "Man pleads guilty in shooting of Overland Park therapy dog."