An Open Letter to the Person Who Shot My Dog

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This is more for my benefit than yours since I assume that you do not care anyway. On Saturday afternoon you traded what could only be a few seconds of what you considered pleasure for hours of pain and suffering for a helpless animal and a lifetime of loss for his family.

You apparently used a small caliber weapon, from which the bullets fragmented, to shoot my pet - twice. I might have rationalized a single shot as a mistake or an accident; but twice is deliberate. I might have rationalize a larger caliber as a hunting accident. But that is not supported by the later x-rays. Then you allowed him to struggle home with a shattered hind leg and a hole in his chest, bleeding and in pain where he looked at me as if to ask “Why did one of our neighbors do this to me?”

 About seven hours, many hundreds of dollars (although the amount doesn’t really matter), three vets and over a half dozen assistants later, the only humane thing left to do was to let Jack drift into that final sleep. There was almost no hope for his chest and lungs due to damage from the fragments and the leg would almost certainly have to be amputated. His heart was failing due to pressure form the air in is chest from his punctured lungs and he could not breathe.

I hope you really enjoyed your few seconds. I want you to know that Jack loved everyone unconditionally. He greeted everyone equally whether they were delivering propane, mail, FedEx or UPS; if they were Jehovah’s Witnesses, just lost or guests he was as excited as if we should kill the "fatted calf" and celebrate. I am trying desperately not to judge you too harshly but you may not have read the book from whence that reference is taken. You have not acted as if you did.

Jack never showed the slightest aggression to anything or anyone (except maybe a mole which he kept trying to dig up in our back yard). Most if not all of our Auburntown neighbors (does that include you?) have petted him down at our shop on Marshall Creek Road; he would be the picture of contentment if anyone anywhere would just rub his head or scratch his ears or touch his back. The ever present flag of his gorgeous white-plumed tail would become instantly still, his eyes would close in peace and contentment. When he needed to go out, he did not bark to disturb the house but went quietly to the door and waited – and if now was not a good time for his family then he waited and would try again in a few minutes. He didn’t like water or loud noises but he loved people and everyone – well almost everyone apparently- loved Jack.

Many years ago and far away I learned to hunt. I learned that I must always know exactly what was in front of my gun; always, I was not to guess. I learned that if I could not get a clean shot then I did not have the right to injure without killing. That is cruel to what I was taught was God’s creatures. I no longer hunt for many reasons unrelated to this letter but one thing I know – YOU are no hunter either. Hunters neither shoot people’s pets nor dogs for food. Hunters do not abandon injured animals to suffer. But then, as I said in the beginning of this letter, I assume that you do not care anyway.

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January 03, 2013 at 5:42pm
Im sry for ur loss i hope u find out who shot him my dogs are like my children i would hurt them if they hurt my dog or granddog
January 03, 2013 at 8:23pm
I too had my dog shot on Carole Anne drive in cannon county by someone who maimed him aNd if it was not for Dr. Tate and his entire staff my grandchildren would be without their beloved pet . We finally found out recently who did this and it was no surprise that someone like this would do something like this to a helpless Animal . Our friends and neighbors have a great neighborhood watch and for that we are greatful but for our pets it has been tremendous suffering at the hands of individuals who have no right to have or handle a gun . We are so sorry for the loss of your pet and hopefully you too will find out eventually who did it like we just did.......not that as of yet anything can be done but them knowing we know means a lot
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January 04, 2013 at 9:35am
I am so sorry for your loss. I too have felt the horrible loss of a beloved family pet, due to a callous act by a so called neighbor. He felt threatened by a humble, lovable young basset hound that made the mistake of wandering into his cow pasture. He without thought or care that Bo was a childs companion, shot him. We never recovered his body, so there was never closure for our family. This so called neighbor has grandchildren. I wonder if he would treat one of their pets like this and have to listen to them cry themselves to sleep night after night. Please remember that God is in control and he will help you through this.
January 04, 2013 at 9:53am
My baby boxer is laying at my feet as I read your letter.There are tears in my eyes as I read it. I care about your precious little friend. For someone to do such a cruel and hateful thing is beyond me. This past year I lost my best friend, a yellow lab, to cancer. I can't get past it for long. He is always with me, so many memories. We all loved him dearly. He is buried in our family cemetery. Kenny Gilley brought his gravestone out and set it up for us. I see it every day. His picture is on it looking into the sunset. I miss him terribly. So you see I do care about your friend.I know whoever did this terrible deed will not get away with it for long. They will pay in the end.They may think they have gotten away with it but they haven't. I wish you the best in dealing with your loss, especially if you have small children or grandchildren.
January 05, 2013 at 7:46pm
I am so sorry for the loss of your dog(member of family). This happened to my dog recently. We knew who did and he admitted to it. We contacted sheriffs dept and nothing has been done to this day. At least we got to my dog and was able to save her with the help of an amazing vet. She is now left with three legs but I thank God that she is still with us. Why people choose to be mean to any animal, let alone one that would never hurt anything, is beyond me. I feel that an animal is like a human and deserves the same respect. If someone does not have respect for an animal then what will they do to a human!
January 10, 2013 at 4:59am
I dont know,what has happen to these crazy people ..they must me full of hate im sorry about your dog I have two little dogs and I know how that love feels...in manchster they have a place with plenty of dogs that need love and its a ch
January 12, 2013 at 8:32am
i'', sprry you lost your beloved pet. It is senseless for animals to have to suffer needlessly. Cruelty to animals is one step below cruelty to humans and usually follows. I have raised many pets and know exactly how you feel they are your family. I hope this individual thinks before he puts anothe animal in his sites. Next time it may be someone putting him in their sites to rob him.
January 23, 2013 at 7:05pm
We too lost our beloved Sam and Skippy to what we have heard was a poacher on our own land. Our dogs were on their own property on their own running trail in their own woods, and shot because they were chasing deer a poacher was trying to bag on OUR property. I am so sorry for your loss, believe that your beloved pet is whole and healthy running in God's yard.
January 29, 2013 at 11:47am
First let me say I'm sorry for your loss. It is so sad that people have become so cruel. And by people I really mean thugs, because in reality that's all they are. Hurting defenseless animals is just the first phase in becoming something far more dangerous! It is up to us as a community to join together..to keep our eyes open to watch what is going on in our neighborhoods. Our police officers can't be everywhere. It is time for us all to come together, to start acting like neighbors like we did back "in the day"
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January 29, 2013 at 9:42pm
What is this world coming to...this person will get whats coming to them one day.. this is one of the sorriest things i have ever heard...i hope the one who done this reads all these messages.who made you god to make you think you and kill this baby that belonged to someone and wreck their lives. you must not have anything else to do.get a job! We are probley keeping you up anyway..Anyone like you isen't going to work i'm sure...if you did...you would know what it like to come home and have someone like this FAMILY MEMBER waiting for you to come home..that loves this family and even knew when they were about to come home...that knew when the car was pulling up in the driveway...their heart would be beating so fast with so much happiness...but you took care of this didn't you...i hope your proud of yourself now you've got your attention...proud person i'm sure it would make me feel good about you paying for what you've done...in time i'm sure you will bragg about this...and someone will tell it..can't wait..can you?
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