Why would someone want to shoot our pet dog?

20th November 2008

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Jamie-Lee and Aimee Bruckner remember their much loved pet Micky

TWO Calliope families are distraught following the brutal deaths of their beloved dogs last week and are warning residents to guard their animals.

Wanda Bruckner, who lives with her family at River Ranch, said their Maltese Micky went missing on Thursday and was found dumped on a nearby driveway. He had been shot at least three times, with a .22 calibre rifle.

"We just want to know why this person did it. If he was wandering, why couldn't you call the pound or come and let us know," Mrs Bruckner told The Observer.

MICKY was a much-loved pet who had been with the family for nearly ten years, she said.

"The police came and spoke to us, but there's not much they can do. They think maybe there is someone in the area who just doesn't like small dogs."

Mrs Bruckner said it was additionally concerning that her area was heavily populated by children who could be harmed in the future.

Cassy Ryan, who lives in Hazelbrook, has also contacted Calliope police after her family's dog Bella was found paralysed in their garden on Friday.

"We thought she had been bitten by a snake, but we took her to the vet, who suspected she'd had dingo poisoning.

She started convulsing and died, there was nothing they could do for her," she told The Observer.

"We checked, but the only dingo poisoning is happening way out west, nowhere near our house. It's scary because we live by a daycare centre and there are children everywhere, plus we have a two year old. It's so dangerous."

It was upsetting for the family to have lost their "gentle giant", she said. Bella had been adopted from the RSPCA four years ago, after she was dumped as a puppy.

Ms Ryan said she could think of no reason for the suspected poisoning.

"We just want to warn people to look out for their pets."