Companion Dog Dies After Someone Shoots Her With Pellet Gun
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Wright County family is devastated after their companion dog died after someone shot her with a pellet gun.
Linnea belonged to James Connolley, a 22-year-old man who has severe cerebral palsy.
"She was his best friend, that was his most enjoyment," said Dina Connolley, James' mother.
Dina got Linnea for James six years ago, and she had been his constant companion ever since.
"She'd jump right up on him and she'd lay right here with her head usually on his armrest. They had such a special bond," Dina said. "We told James on Sunday what happened to her and stuff and he started crying."
James' grandmother realized last Friday that Linnea had been shot by some sort of a pellet gun.
"I was actually right about here and Linnea was just around the corner," said Earlynne Meister, James' grandmother. "The minute I could see her she was just screaming, in a lot of pain. The pellet went in at her chest."
The veterinarian told the family she thought Linnea would survive, but the next day the Cavapoo suffered a seizure.
"She said she was dying and she died right there. I thought James would grow older with her and everything. She just meant so much to him," Dina said.
As they cope with the loss of Linnea, they worry their other dog could be in danger when she is outside.
"You think living out in the country you're safe from a lot of things, but I guess anywhere," Earlynne said.
The Wright County Sheriff's Office is investigating, but a spokesperson said pellets do not have ballistics like bullets do. They need someone to come forward to solve this case.
"It really hurts me that someone would shoot a little 10-pound dog that hasn't hurt anybody, you know, and especially my son," Dina said.
The Connolleys would like to get another Cavapoo for James.