Some pet owners in Ewell, located outside the Ozark city limits, say one of their neighbors is shooting and poisoning their cats and dogs for no reason.

One family says they are even afraid for the safety of their children. But what’s worse is officials say not much can be done about it.

Forty-seven-year-old Tony Grantham of Ewell, Alabama is now charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly shot two of his neighbor's dogs.

However, Grantham's neighbors say those aren't the only animals he's killed.

In fact, neighbors claim he has killed more than 30 dogs and 20 cats in the last four years.

"These are our animals. They're not stray animals," says Pam Watson.

"It's everybody in our neighborhood. There's always people looking for their dogs and we all know what happens to them. He's threatened people over there," says Ed Parrish.

Grantham told police the animals come into his yard and attack his chickens.

Neighbors say that's a lie.

"The chickens come in your yard all the time, and we had both of our dogs killed. We had to keep the dog chained because he would get mad because the dog would eat the chickens. The chickens come over our fence and into our yard. We couldn't keep them from eating the chickens and every animal around here that's died has been because he's said that the animals are getting into the chickens, but the dogs go everywhere," says Dessie Evans.

Parrish filed the most recent complaint against Grantham and signed a warrant for his arrest.

Parrish says he's even afraid for his children. "I don't even let my kids play in the yard because there's a stray bullet going to hit somebody," he says.

Police say, not much can be done.

Investigators say if Grantham claims to be threatened by the dogs or cats and the pets are on his property, he's within his rights to shoot them.

The pet owners must prove to the courts he purposely killed their pets on the owner's property.

According to the Dale County district attorney, there is no law prohibiting Grantham from discharging a firearm even though he is allegedly shooting a gun in a neighborhood. He is outside Ozark city limits.

Grantham will appear before the Ozark City Court later this month.