Who shot the Colonel in the back??

[Jannette Blair]

http://www.komonews.com/news/25934719.html?video=pop&t=a


Search and rescue dog shot in Bremerton
Colonel was cruising the neighborhood as he's done every day for the past several years when someone put a bullet in his back leg. "Somebody that was cowardly and evil decided to shoot him," said owner Lucas Hart

BREMERTON, Wash. -- What appears to be a case of animal cruelty has claimed the life of a beloved dog.

The owners call it an evil act and says other neighborhood pets could be in danger.

Lucas Hart personally trained her German shepherd, Colonel, for search and rescue missions.

Colonel was cruising the neighborhood as he's done every day for the past several years when someone put a bullet in his back leg.

"Somebody that was cowardly and evil decided to shoot him," Hart said.

Hart lives in a wooded area of Bremerton on a block where leashed dogs are a rare sight.

"They kind of like the idea of having dogs roam around because it does keep the coyotes away from the property, away from the cats and kids," he said.

When Colonel finally found his way back to the house, he was bleeding and barely alive.

Hart rushed Colonel to a veterinarian, who said surgery was possible but unlikely to help. Because of the dog's age and other health problems, the dog would remain in pain.

Hart then had to make the heartbreaking decision to put his beloved dog to sleep.

"You would have probably," he said. "Anybody who has seen an animal in that much pain would have probably done the humane thing."

Investigators believe the dog was shot in the neighborhood as it was walking or running away. Detectives plan to run ballistics on the slug they recovered from Colonel's leg.

The news caught the attention of the animal advocates with Pasado's Safe Haven.

"The dog was shot from the back. I think it's cut-and-dry cruelty," said Angel with Pasado's.

The group is now offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction to the gunman.

[Gary & Viktoria]

Hello Jannette,

This is a sad story indeed. We think animals are to be
loved, protected and kept as safe as possible, just like
a small child should be.

We can neither excuse the person(s) that did this cruel
thing or the owner who had an obligation to keep a
watchful eye over the beloved pet and provide a safe
and secure environment in a kennel type setting.

It's true that some neighborhoods have large wooded
areas, but one wouldn't allow their small child to
cruise the neighborhood at all hours of the day and
night, neither should they allow the same for their
beloved pets.

We know that there are alot of elements in nature that
are just as harmful i.e., snakes, predatory animals such
as in this case the coyote. That's why protecting our
small children and our pets is so important.

That's just how we believe. We do hope the person(s)
that did this cruelty will be caught and prosecuted.

Regards,

Gary & Viktoria
Florida - USA