A local family feels “violated” after their dog was shot – they assume by a hunter – while they were taking their pets for a walk on their 92-acre farm property here.
Sarah McKay and her husband Angus were taking their two dogs, Apple and Aerie, which Sarah describes as Labrador-German pointer mix, for a walk around 10:30am on Dec. 1 when the incident occurred.
She said Apple was running in a bush near a field when the couple heard a shot.
“She (Apple) came out of the woods and I knew she was hurt,” Sarah said. “She had blood all over her back end.”
“We’re just so angry and feel violated by this,” she added of the shooting that took place about 50 feet from where the couple was standing. “[The shooter] could have hit one of us.”
The family moved to what she described as their “piece of paradise” about five years ago and posted “no hunting” signs and removed any tree stands they found in the wooded area of their property. Since moving there they have been “vigilant” about removing any new tree stands.
It’s not Sarah’s first encounter with hunters. She said, “I lost a dog when I was a kid to a bow hunter.”
Of the incident last weekend, she said, “This is our family pet, it’s terrible.”
The McKays took Apple to the family veterinarian, where an examination showed bullet fragments lodged inside the dog.
“(An) X-ray showed a partial bullet close to the spine and the bowel because the bullet broke up,” she said.
The veterinarian advised the couple against surgery to remove the fragments because of where they were located.
The owner estimates the vet bill is “about $2,000” at this point.
“If they did decide to go with surgery it would have been thousands and thousands more,” Sarah said.
The couple also called the OPP, which responded and canvassed the area as part of a police investigation, OPP media relations officer Bob Bortolato said in an email to the Advertiser.
“Never in a million years would I think someone would shoot my dog,” Sarah McKay said.
The couple expected to have their dog home on Tuesday to recover from her wounds. They will also be more vigilant when walking their two dogs.
Coincidentally, the Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) issued an advisory to hunters on Dec. 2.
“All hunters are responsible to ensure they are always handling firearms in a safe manner at all times. Safe use of firearms can’t be stressed enough” said OCOA president Joe McCambridge.
“All hunters heading out need to remember to practice safe firearm handling at all times.”
