Dog shot, killed with pellet gun in Maple Grove under investigation
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (FOX 9) - A local family is mourning after their dog was shot in front of their home in Maple Grove.
Police are still looking for a suspect after the dog, Eli, was hit near where several kids were playing.
“We are absolutely baffled, we have no idea who would want to do this to him,” said Brent Peterson, Eli’s owner.
It all started while Peterson’s family was getting ready to celebrate their daughter’s seventh birthday Saturday. Eli was in front of the family’s Maple Grove home with neighborhood kids when suddenly Brent saw his 11-year-old rat terrier-collie mix was bleeding.
“He couldn’t even make it up the steps, we picked him up and brought him in,” Peterson said.
He rushed the dog to the vet where X-rays revealed a pellet gun round inside him.
“We just had to put him to sleep,” said Peterson. “It was the only humane thing to do.”
The family’s front security camera didn’t capture the shooting in their cul-de-sac. Police told the family the shooting may have happened closer to the pond.
“He was the most lovable dog anyone could meet, we can’t imagine why someone would want to harm an innocent animal,” said Peterson.
“We don’t know if this was an intentional act,” said Captain Adam Lindquist of the Maple Grove Police Department.
Capt. Lindquist told FOX 9 it’s against city ordinance to fire pellet guns, and the shooter could face a felony charge if the person shot Eli on purpose.
“There’s no suspects,” said Lindquist. “Officers did a thorough job canvasing the neighborhood.”
Just last year FOX 9 reported on to a similar crime about five miles away in Plymouth when someone shot a dog in their fenced yard near the Bass Lake play field. However, Capt. Lindquist says he believes the shooting in Maple Grove is an isolated incident.
“I’m still in shock, I’m still feel the same I did Saturday night,” said Peterson. “I cannot get my head around why this took place.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Maple Grove police.