Police are hoping that a B.C. man, suspected of shooting a four-month-old Jack Russell puppy just metres away from its home on Quadra Island Saturday morning, will soon report to police.
"I'm hoping that he will turn himself in,'' said Cpl. Craig Peterson of Quadra Island RCMP.
Owner Nick Rose said the dog -- called Seymour -- was a gift to son Max, to mark the end of three-years of cancer treatment.
"My kids were happy and laughing like they haven't been in years. My son in particular since before he was diagnosed with cancer I hadn't heard those kind of giggles and that kid of laughter out of him."
But all that changed on Saturday morning outside the rose family's Quadra Island home.
"We had our new puppy with us, and we had a great night just the three boys, and we're staring our chores and down the road walked two hunters returning from an unsuccessful dear hunt."
Both of these hunters had shot guns. Not knowing any better, Seymour did what most puppies would do.
"He bounded out in his affable, puppy-like way wagging and simpering and practically peeing himself wanting to say hi."
But Rose knew the two men from an incident a few years earlier and he knew this was trouble.
Frantic he called Seymour back. But the puppy just followed the pair around a corner and out of sight. That's when a shot rang out.
"I ran to the end of our driveway and looked around the corner and there was our little puppy, quivering in his death-throws at the side of the road."
The hunters ran off leaving Nick and his kids in shock along with the rest of the island community. Even police are in disbelief.
"I'm like you, stunned, shocked that a senseless act like this has been carried out," said Peterson.
Police know the identity of one of the hunters and are hoping they turn themselves in to face possible charges.
"Right now we're looking at dangerous use or careless use of a firearm as well as endangering an animal, in this case killing a dog."
For Seymour's family, charges are taking a back seat to the emotional impact and senselessness of what happened.
With reports by CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart and The Canadian Press
