Police in Texas said a suspect remains at large after he shot a family’s dog in front of Texas home on Thursday—a crime they said was random and unprovoked.
People magazine reported that the man approached two boys, ages 5 and 7, in front of their Dallas apartment as they took out the trash. He reportedly mumbled a “Sorry” before brandishing a gun and shooting Nolan, their 9-month-old Labrador Retriever mix who retreated into his owner’s home after being wounded.
The suspect reportedly took off on foot. Law enforcement said the there was no indication that boys or the dog did anything to cause the man to open fire, according to the magazine.
The dog’s owner, Genola Vance, told WFAA that she had her nephews take out the trash when they ran into the home yelling, “someone shot Nolan!”
She recalled, “He ran by me into the house and there was blood everywhere.”
Nolan is recovering at home after undergoing emergency surgery for a bullet that entered through the front of his mouth and exited through his jaw.
WFAA reported that the local SPCA chapter paid the $7000 medical bill, which included veterinarians placing an external fixator on Nolan’s shattered jaw. The fixator will be readjusted throughout Nolan’s recovery.
Vance said she fears the man would have shot her nephews had her dog not been there.
“We chose Nolan out of every dog at the shelter,” Vance said. “He’s like my son. I love my kids and I love him the same.”
“He took a bullet for my family.”
The suspect is wanted on animal cruelty charges. Police described him as an African American male wearing a black hoodie and backpack.
Anyone with information about the March 7 incident should call Crime Stoppers at 877-373-8477 or Detective H. Tame with the Dallas Police Department Animal Cruelty Unit at 214-671-0115.
[Featured image: WFAA video screengrab]
