skushnereit User Profile

This story might not be your typical comforting dog story, but to me my dog is a hero. I find comfort in just looking at my dog knowing what she has gone through and has not once whimpered or indicated any pain. But she was in pain, and for that my dog is very special to me and when I do look at her, all my troubles dissappear knowing the pain she has been through. Read on:

On a sub zero day in February, 2007, my daughter was home from school. My daughter decided to let our 3 year old black lab, Emma, outside. But before my daughter could get Emma’s collar on, the dog slipped out the door. My dog wandered into one of my neighbors’ yard, and the neighbor didn’t like that. So, he shot at my dog and hit her left hind leg.

Emma hobbled home, bleeding and in pain. Within 24 hours she had surgery, her leg was amputated, the bullet was recovered, and she came home 2 days later on 3 legs.

In talking to another neighbor (a neighbor who believes in helping other neighbors), she says both dogs were playing in her yard.

Whatever made my dog cross the road that fateful day, I do not know. The worst part is that this neighbor knew that the dog he shot was my dog. Do you think he could have scared her away instead of shooting her? Apparently not.

I have spoken to the State Police and the Humane Officer and found that no charges will be filed against my neighbor. We learned, “If a dog is on your property and that dog doesn’t belong to you, then you can shoot it.” There is no penalty or punishment for my neighbor and his barbaric act that maimed our family pet; he was supposedly within his rights to do so. I must tell you that on one occasion, my daughter walked this same neighbor’s dog back to their front porch when it had wandered on to our property. The thought of harming or killing his pet never entered anyone’s mind.

My dog will adjust. She is a sweetheart and is coping quite well. On the other hand, I don’t think my family will ever adjust. How would you ever reconcile that shooting a neighbors’ dog in your yard was the right thing to do? Or how do you justify willfully and purposely maiming a dog, causing pain and mutilation? And how do you come to terms with the fact that shooting your neighbor’s dog is “ok” with no consequences whatsoever?

I welcome your comments and would like to hear from you.