Dog Shot And Killed By Pellet Gun In Hingham Backyard
HINGHAM (CBS) - A dog was shot and killed by a pellet gun in a backyard in Hingham on Thursday.
Police say the owner, Joe Griffin had brought the 7-year-old Australian Cattle and German Shepard mix to his parent's home on Chamberlain Run.
He told officers he let the 65-pound dog named Stanley out to run around in the yard. An hour later, he found the dog dead in the backyard with some type of puncture wound.
"It was a shock really. I couldn't believe it," Griffin said. "Who and why: those are answers we've got to figure out."
The dog had collapsed just a few feet from the back deck.
A necropsy confirmed that the dog died from a shot by a pellet gun.
Griffin told police that in the past, he had let the dog out in the yard a number of times and never had any issues with neighbors.
WBZ-TV's Ken Macleod reports
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jim Smith reports
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Hingham Police Sgt. Steven Dearth said the shot came from close range and they believe the shooting was intentional.
"This dog did have a collar and it did have tags," Sgt. Dearth told WBZ-TV.
If found, the shooter is found, that person would face felony charge of animal cruelty.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact them.
