3MTA3
09-12-2009, 10:17 AM
One veterinarian says she's treating more pets involved in crimes in which many of the animals are suffering from gunshot wounds.
In the last five months, two dogs have been shot in the head. Rico, a pit bull puppy was one victim yesterday NewsChannel 3 told you of another. Sara Morris interviewed the family of Rico and Mika the German shepherd.
Family members of Rico and Mika will tell you that these dogs are not just pets, they are protectors.
"I really didn't want the dog to get shot, but I really feel if he weren't there something worse could have happened to us..." says Chuck Snellinger/ Rico's caretaker.
In the last few months both dogs were attacked by burglars while their caretakers were nearby and police believe both prevented the burglars from hurting their caretakers.
"It's obvious that these dogs in these cases are very positive of their owners and appear to take action on behalf of their owners." says Margie Long/ Virginia Beach police
In April Rico was shot point blank by a .45 caliber hand gun in the head while chasing a burglar from his caretakers business.
Amazingly, the bullet went right between his brain and his eye not hitting any major vessels. He's making a full recovery.
Mika also chased a burglar from her home and she was shot as well. The bullet actually went through Mika's mouth chipping a tooth but after a few stitches she's now back playing with her family.
Dr. Karen Smithwick, a veterinarian at Tidewater Animal Emergency says in the past six months she's seen more animals suffering from crime related injuries.
"We are definitely seeing more visible cases."
Smithwick says in most of these cases the pet was not the target.
"They probably don't think of that--- what if I break into a house and there's animals there--- a lot of them don't have that kind of foresight."
Instead Smithwick says criminals may feel threatened and that's why they sometimes shoot the animals and most of the time, run away, making Rico and Mika heroes.
The best way to protect your pet from being involved in a crime is to warn burglars that you have a dog. You can do this by putting up signs on your fence or in the front of your home.
News video at link: http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-puppies-shot,0,650600.story
In the last five months, two dogs have been shot in the head. Rico, a pit bull puppy was one victim yesterday NewsChannel 3 told you of another. Sara Morris interviewed the family of Rico and Mika the German shepherd.
Family members of Rico and Mika will tell you that these dogs are not just pets, they are protectors.
"I really didn't want the dog to get shot, but I really feel if he weren't there something worse could have happened to us..." says Chuck Snellinger/ Rico's caretaker.
In the last few months both dogs were attacked by burglars while their caretakers were nearby and police believe both prevented the burglars from hurting their caretakers.
"It's obvious that these dogs in these cases are very positive of their owners and appear to take action on behalf of their owners." says Margie Long/ Virginia Beach police
In April Rico was shot point blank by a .45 caliber hand gun in the head while chasing a burglar from his caretakers business.
Amazingly, the bullet went right between his brain and his eye not hitting any major vessels. He's making a full recovery.
Mika also chased a burglar from her home and she was shot as well. The bullet actually went through Mika's mouth chipping a tooth but after a few stitches she's now back playing with her family.
Dr. Karen Smithwick, a veterinarian at Tidewater Animal Emergency says in the past six months she's seen more animals suffering from crime related injuries.
"We are definitely seeing more visible cases."
Smithwick says in most of these cases the pet was not the target.
"They probably don't think of that--- what if I break into a house and there's animals there--- a lot of them don't have that kind of foresight."
Instead Smithwick says criminals may feel threatened and that's why they sometimes shoot the animals and most of the time, run away, making Rico and Mika heroes.
The best way to protect your pet from being involved in a crime is to warn burglars that you have a dog. You can do this by putting up signs on your fence or in the front of your home.
News video at link: http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-puppies-shot,0,650600.story