Should I contact the authorities?

[The Walrus]

I know this subject has been brought up before, but I spent some time looking through older posts and I haven't found a definitive answer. So I'll lay out the situation first.

Yesterday, June 11th I was out in our yard. I turned around and I saw my brother's dog stumbling across the driveway covered in blood. I took a closer look and found he had a bullet hole through his chest, x-rays showed the bullet went just above his heart and lungs and just below his spine, so he should survive, but it's still iffy. I had let him go outside in the morning because he had been in all night and I figured he needed to pee, plus the neighbors dogs were out and he loves to go play with them. We don't have any other neighbors within half a mile of our house besides the ones across the road. George (the dog) used to wander off whenever we left home because he would follow our cars, so we started chaining him on a run whenever all of us left home. But since the neighbors dogs were out I assumed he would stay close by since all he does with them is swim in the pond and chew on old bones in the yard. Plus I was in the yard doing chores all day so I thought he wouldn't go far. It was about quarter past five in the evening when I found him bloody, so we took him to a vet clinic and they think he will make it.

My question is should I contact authorities, or is there no point? We have no way of knowing who did it or why. There are no livestock close by, George is friendly with other dogs, and we've had good progress on keeping him from chasing cats. He is around 85 pounds, a treeing walker hound. Probably the nicest, goofiest, most gentle dog I have ever met. I can't figure out why anyone would want to shoot him. But I don't know the exact laws of when it is okay to kill a dog. I did some research and it mostly seems to depend on the individual situation. We haven't received any warnings or threats about our dog, this was completely unexpected. Everyone who has met him seems to love him. Even when the vets were checking his wounds and he was in pain, he still wasn't violent. He never even growled. What do you all think?

[XD45]

report for sure needs filed, and neighbors need talked to so you can try to figure out what happened.

[skyjerk]

I

My question is should I contact authorities, or is there no point? We have no way of knowing who did it or why. There are no livestock close by, George is friendly with other dogs, and we've had good progress on keeping him from chasing cats. He is around 85 pounds, a treeing walker hound. Probably the nicest, goofiest, most gentle dog I have ever met. I can't figure out why anyone would want to shoot him. But I don't know the exact laws of when it is okay to kill a dog. I did some research and it mostly seems to depend on the individual situation. We haven't received any warnings or threats about our dog, this was completely unexpected. Everyone who has met him seems to love him. Even when the vets were checking his wounds and he was in pain, he still wasn't violent. He never even growled. What do you all think?

Thats horrible. I dont know you or your dog and I'm livid.



Even if you think there is no way you will ever find out who is responsible you should notify the police.

Was the bullet recovered or was it through and through? If so you and the police would at least know the type of firearm used. The perp cant be that far away. Maybe they know someone thats had complaints before.

Either way, I'd keep George a bit closer to home from now on for his own protection.
You hate to do it, but obviously there is a giant asshole out there not far away.
It looks like George got lucky this time. Next time he might not be so fortunate.

I love dogs. Sometimes more than people. I hope you find out who did it and have a
long "talk" with him in private.

[The Walrus]

The shot was a through and through, so no bullet. On the x-ray you can see the fragments from the jacket spread throughout his shoulders, but the vet said they couldn't be removed safely. Judging by the hole, and the fact that the bullet exited I would guess something similar to a .243, but I am no expert. I just know that something like a .22 couldn't go in, shatter some ribs, and then exit intact enough to make an exit would about the same size at the entrance wound.

[skyjerk]

The shot was a through and through, so no bullet. On the x-ray you can see the fragments from the jacket spread throughout his shoulders, but the vet said they couldn't be removed safely. Judging by the hole, and the fact that the bullet exited I would guess something similar to a .243, but I am no expert. I just know that something like a .22 couldn't go in, shatter some ribs, and then exit intact enough to make an exit would about the same size at the entrance wound.

I'm praying that poor George makes a speedy recovery.

It just bakes my brain that someone would just shoot a dog for no reason.
Some people just have no soul.

If he was being attacked thats a different story, but it sure doesn't sound like
George would do that, particularly when well off his "turf"

[yetidave]

That makes my blood boil. Anyone willing to shoot a friendly dog needs to be closely monitored. If I had an asshole of that caliber living close to me I'd sure as hell want to know who it was and exactly where they lived. I'd then let them know, in no uncertain terms, that I ever caught them so much as looking in the direction of my property, there was going to be a major problem.

[Karl/PA]

I'm surprised the vet didn't report it.

[LittleRedToyota]

that sucks...i hope he recovers.

you might want to make sure you were not in violation of any leash laws, etc. for letting your dog outside unrestrained before calling the police, though.

(i don't have anything against doing so depending on cirumstances, but in some places it is a violation of local ordinances.)

[skyjerk]

Anyone willing to shoot a friendly dog needs to be closely monitored.

Yep...closely monitored after their well deserved beating

[yetidave]

Yep...closely monitored after their well deserved beating

Without a doubt.