Pet owners in an Annapolis Valley town say they are concerned for the safety of their dogs and cats following the death of their neighbour’s beloved dog.
The Trafton family of Berwick, Nova Scotia is in mourning after the death of Ruger, a Labrador mix, who was found cowering under a neighbour's deck after being shot with a pellet gun last weekend.
The neighbours say it was odd that Ruger went missing because he didn't normally wander.
“He never went very far, just around their yard, the backyard," says neighbour Harold Morse.
After Ruger was found the next morning, the family took the dog to the animal hospital. X-rays revealed the dog had been shot twice with a pellet gun. Treatment began right away, but Ruger didn't recover and he was put down on Thursday.
Now, the owners of his regular playmate, Oscar, say they are worried.
“At least four or five other people have dogs, we have a dog, so it's actually pretty scary, if somebody's out there shooting dogs,” says neighbour Aaron Morse.
The neighbours say they find it hard to imagine someone in their area is hurting pets.
"Somebody going out to hurt an animal like that, it's really crazy, especially in a quiet neighbourhood like Berwick," says Morse.
Right outside the house where Ruger the dog lived, is a tree with a sign nailed to it about a missing cat.
The RCMP is investigating and says they don't take these incidents lightly.
“It would require investigation, and certainly there's a process involved,” says NS RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Clarke. “But certainly if there was an offense we could prove that would apply to the situation, we might wind up laying charges."
The neighbours say they're keeping their eyes open on Berwick’s Cottage Street and on their pets.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ron Shaw
