JACKSON, Miss. – An argument over a dog and what it may have left behind on a neighbor’s lawn escalated to a shootout in rural Mississippi, sending one neighbor to the hospital and the other neighbor to jail.

Terry Tenhet, 52, said he was struck Wednesday in both hands, the shoulder, chest and side by pellets from a shotgun fired by Jerry Blasingame, 60. The wounds are not life-threatening.

Washington County Assistant Chief Deputy Billy Barber said Tenhet was angry because he thought Blasingame’s dog had defecated in his lawn.

Each man described the incident to The Associated Press.

Tenhet said he visited Blasingame just to complain in general about the dog feces on his lawn — not to accuse him — and found a drunk and irate neighbor.

Blasingame said they argued because Tenhet recently shot his dog and threatened to kill him and his dog “over poop.”

Tenhet denies shooting the mixed-breed dog: “I said, ‘Jerry, your dog ain’t even dead.’ He said, ‘Just meet me at the levee and I’ll shoot you down.’“

Blasingame said he got a gun and left in his truck, hoping Tenhet would follow so there’d be no confrontation in front of bystanders. Tenhet did not follow.

The men dispute what happened next.

Blasingame says Tenhet was armed when he returned: “He shot twice. I returned fire.”

Tenhet says he was unarmed when Blasingame returned and opened fire. Tenhet said he grabbed his pistol from his nearby car and returned fire, then dropped his gun after being struck in both thumbs.

Blasingame was charged with aggravated assault.