McDonough family left wondering who shot, killed their dog

MCDONOUGH, Ga. - A McDonough family's beloved pet was shot and killed. The dog's body was discovered alongside a busy roadway last week near their home.

Gary Terrell made the heartbreaking discovery. The 3-year-old Labradoodle's body was found at the entrance to the Joyner subdivision on busy Upchurch Road.

"We initially thought he'd been hit by a car," said Terrell.

But the family soon discovered Captain had been shot.

The dog was in the family's fenced in backyard when the wind blew the gate open and Captain slipped out the afternoon of July 30.

"We found him around 4:30 or 5, right over there on the side of the road just across the street from the house and it was apparent once I picked him up there as no damage to him other than a gunshot wound," said Terrell.

Terrell said neighbors told him they heard gunshots earlier that day. A responding officer searched the area.

"Go around the neighborhood and try to get witnesses or see if there was anyone that notices anything or saw the animal or anything," said Major Mike Ireland, Henry County Police Department.

A neighbor's surveillance camera captured an image of Captain after he had left the yard and was wandering the neighborhood.

Terrell cannot imagine why anyone would want to hurt him.

"He loved kids, little kids could pull his ears love on him, he would just roll over and let ‘em scratch his belly," said Terrell.

The case has been turned over to Henry County Animal Control. Anyone with information in the case is asked to come forward.