WTF: sumbody shot my dog!

[sirenmoses]

K9 is fine, snuggling as I type, but WTF??

He'd been to the vet on Tues for a blood draw, exam was unremarkable. Wens I left for work at 0800, returned Thurs 1030 b/c I'm a firefighter working 24s, and had to hold for my relief to come from 35mi away.

Thurs 1230 I'm reading a book (excellent, will post up in another thread) and scritching him when I find a bump. Curious to see if it matches a known bump on the other shoulder, I scritch at it a bit, and damnd if a piece of shot don't come out!

'Okay, be calm' I tell myself, 'he's a rescue, been w/you 9mo now, could be old stuff working it's way out' More scritching finds more shot: call a vet buddy, get an xray: 23 pellet visible on the chest, plus the 4 I pulled.

90min later, thorough x2 manual palpation puts 17 pellets in a tube, 3 shaved places, w/one where the pellet is visible above the entry wound but unable to be expressed.

Other dog checks out clear, coupla strained muscles; drop by the cop shop to make a report, just in case. Deputy asks if the dog is with me, which gives k9 a chance to meet n greet and win hearts. "See what a dangerous dog he is?"

 

[sirenmoses]

pt 2

I live 17 miles from 'town', been in this neighborhood 10yrs, (more) dogs have been in residence since house was built in late 80s, got 3 neighbors in view from my front window (N, NE, and E), intermittant ('summer house') out the kitchen window (S), and 10 acres of land held in estate behind me (up a very steep hill to the W). A neighbor's dog runs loose (Zorro, a Ridgeback), which the locals don't seem to mind (tho I do). NE neighbor's been walkin a puppy past my house lately, which causes my guys to holler, but the puppy is on lead, and so we're both within our rights.

My dogs are both rescues, no escape attempts since I've had 'em, and the one that got shot is a doll, makes friends wherever he goes.

Anger doesn't begin to express my feelings; stopped at the corner store, told staff my dog had been shot, please warn other folks, and if morning conversation included 'shot that dog' to pitch in w/ 'cops are patrolling, cameras in place'.

Sadly, the 'suspect' list is small: drive-by shooter, and my N neighbor. I'd thought better of him, though he does have a pattern of badness to this property; made it a point to chat up the WWII + VN vet when we crossed paths, and help him out when I had the chance.

 

[sirenmoses]

Preventatives include:

cop drivebys, due to report
word of mouth, 'installed cams that night'
asking the neighbors if they heard a shot, feeding above
deterent cam's, unpowered/wired
game cameras, functioning
practicing open carry on my property

if it happens again, I'll hafta put a solid fence on the road aspect (E).


thoughts, tips, ideas?

 

[tcb]

how long ago did the vet think this had happened? I'd think you'd hear somebody shooting your dog on your property..

 

[Trollhole]

Kids in the woods filling your dog with lead. Thats my theory.

 

[tcb]

i'd lose my s*** if somebody shot my dog... the more I think about this, the more it bothers me.

 

[nat]

What is a N neighbor?

Bummer about your dog, I would be pissed too.

 

[wob]

My thinking is the dog got shot lonnnng before you got him. Shot pellets can take years to work their way out.

Country dogs get shot all of the time (unfortunately). I know my parent's golden retarded got sprayed with birdshot several times - usually for trying to bone some country skank bitch.

In other words, I wouldn't sweat it, unless you see a fresh wound on your dog.

 

[96r50]

What is a N neighbor?

Bummer about your dog, I would be pissed too.

I think it's the neighbour who lives North of him.

That sucks, hopefully wob is right.

 

[yzftaco]

I'm thinking the dog was shot a long time ago as well, (Unless the entry wounds look fresh) You also would notice a lot of blood on the coat if it was anytime recent..

 

[WarDamnEagle]

got sprayed with birdshot several times - usually for trying to bone some country skank bitch.

Got any birdshot in you Wob?

 

[sirenmoses]

Scabs and previous vet visit suggest my dog was shot while I was at work, the day before I discoverd the pellets near and somewhat under his skin. Vet sez pellets actually get encapsulated and rarely work their way back up. Even if they did, for 20+ to do so at the same time would be a stretch.

I have been home and heard gunfire, followed shortly thereafter by my dogs tearing inside through the dog door. East neighbor was shooting moles, which he explained to me when I ran into him at the corner store the next day.

Yes, N neighbor is North. He once threw firecrackers at a fencebreaker dog: took 3 days and a s***-ton of flyers posted to find that one, hiding in a barn a mile away, growling in the dark at the homeowner, who remembered the flyer as they went to get a gun to shoot the 'bear'.

"I was trying to calm him down" said the Korean war vet/N neighbor. 'Yea, so how'd you feel when you were getting shot at over there' sez my buddy. "well, I was scared, sure I was." Duh.

 

[calstyl2]

Burn his s*** out, if doesnt happen again...............he was the one.

 

[Darwood]

Burn his s*** out, if doesnt happen again...............he was the one.

I agree with calstyl.

What is it with you guys and wanting to burn things?

 

[beaufort-fj60]

Got any birdshot in you Wob?

ha ha....

 

[fsusteve]

is your property fenced or is he contained while you're not there?

 

[agomez]

hey you guys quit picking on short-round....

 

[fsusteve]

I agree with calstyl.

What is it with you guys and wanting to burn things?

every fireman is a pyro at heart.....duh.

 

[Fly Rod]

That sucks!

What size was the shot? If the shot was small, 8-9, my guess is it would have been a 40-60 yd shot. Closer that 40 and penetration should have been deeper. How for is the N house from your property line?

Don't under estimate your dog either. We found out that one of my room mates dogs was "visiting" while we were at work. He was there every morning we left and every afternoon we returned. Until one day my RM came home 1/2 hour early. No dog to be found. Ten minutes later he comes bounding over the 5' fence like nothing ever happened.

If your dog was visiting then pinning it all on your N nieghbor would be wrong. Spreading the word as you are doing is the best thing to do. Word will get out and most likely the perp won't do it again. Hopefully anyway!

 

[Atticus]

keep your dog contained