SMOKEY POINT — Owners of two dogs that were allegedly roaming free on New Year’s Day have been cited after a neighbor fired at and hit one of the animals.

Vicki Lubrin, Snohomish County Animal Control manager, said that the dogs were chasing newborn calves on a neighbor’s property near the intersection of 168th Street NE and McPherson Road Jan. 1.

The owner of the calves, who at the time was protecting a six-hour-old calf, shot at the dogs to scare them off, Lubrin said.

“She was apparently a better shot than she thought,” she said, adding that the neighbor hit one of the dogs — a 5-year-old golden retriever.

According to a report on KING 5 news, the dog has 73 pellets embedded in his hind quarter, but the dog is expected to live.

Owners of the golden retriever and another black mixed breed dog were cited for having potentially dangerous dogs, as well as violating the leash law.

In addition to paying a $50 fine, the owners will have to keep their dogs in a securely fenced area, and the dogs will not be able to leave their property unless they are muzzled and leashed.