Dog shooter leaves an empty hole in family's hearts

To the Editor:

On the morning of March 12, our golden retriever Brodie ran off with a neighbor dog. The two dogs were on the run the entire week.

Our family and friends searched daily for hours looking for both dogs, knocking on every door. Unfortunately, I received a call on Saturday evening stating that Brodie had been found. He was shot in the head, then his body was dumped into the river.

I'm not sure if Brodie was chasing deer, bothering livestock or just being a nuisance. If that was the case, I'd gladly pay a fine or restitution for Brodie's wrongdoings.

He had been lost for six days. His running free was my fault, as I misplaced his shock collar. With spring fever, he ran off and became scared, confused and trying to survive.

What was your motive? How cruel are you? Why then dump the body in the river? I need answers from you. Shooting a dog involves so much more than you can imagine.

What am I suppose to tell my sons? This dog was their best friend. He was family. Brodie did everything with them. He spent the entire summer at the lake and hiking. In the fall he would grouse hunt. In the winter he would goose and duck hunt.

Brodie was only a year and a half old. Brodie was loved by his family and many of our friends. He had one of the best loving personalities and would have never hurt a soul.

Words can not express the grief we are going through. My oldest son is lost. He keeps asking why someone shot his best friend and what is he going to do without him. He had such big plans and goals for Brodie; he imagined at least 15 years of life together with him.

You have left a very empty hole in our hearts. Years ago, I had a dog mutilate our kitten in front of my boys when they were 3 and 5 years old. I called the owner to express my concern and dismay. Last week a friend of mine had their dog shot for disturbing chickens.

Calling animal control or the sheriff would have been the better answer. Let them handle the necessary punishment.

Let's all learn from this and try to work together instead of making rash judgments and acting on impulses. Killing isn't the answer.

If you had read his tags and called, we would have come to get him and enjoyed many years together. Now we only have a gravesite and extreme grief.

Judy Graham