Reward Offered for Info on Dog Shot at South Central

Reward Offered for Info on Dog Shot at South Central

By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star

VALDEZ - Police are still looking for leads and a suspect in the tragic shooting of a family dog at Valdez Mobile Home Park a week ago Sunday, an act that shocked and outraged the community. "We haven't developed any suspects," Police Chief Joe Michaud said Monday morning.

To help police find the perpetrator of this cruel act, The Valdez Star is offering a reward of $100 to anyone who provides information to bring the shooter to justice. Callers may remain anonymous.

The victim, a nine year old Labrador mix dog named Peppers, was shot but not mortally wounded at the Valdez Mobile Home Park (South Central), sometime in the late afternoon or early evening Sunday, May 1. The family who owns the dog found the animal suffering after he had wandered away from home and they went out looking for their pet. The family incurred a great deal of medical expenses trying to save the animal's life but in the end, Peppers had to be "put down" to end his suffering.

Police have not yet released details on the weapon used to shoot Peppers, but at the time of the crime, they speculated it was either a .22 caliber gun or a high powered pellet gun.

In a case that Michaud says "may or may not be related," a Mini Doberman Pincher was shot in the neck with a pellet gun on Cottonwood last week. "This one was on a chain," said the Chief. "It's (the dog) going to survive."

The police encourage anyone with information on either of these crimes to call the police at 835-4560.