Dog shot and left to die in Shohola

By Anya Tikka
SHOHOLA — On Halloween night, a 911 call went out to the Pike County Humane Society’s Police Officer, Barry Heim. A hurt dog was seen at Christian Hill Road in Shohola, the caller said.

When Heim got there, Jack DeSilva, Assistant Chief of Police in Milford, was already on the scene, trying to coax the frightened dog from underneath a van. Bugsy, a male two-year-old Great Dane-pit-bull mix, had been shot point blank in the neck and throat.

“He was frightened and growling pretty good,” Heim said.

After about 45 minutes of trying, the officers succeeded in gently bringing the scared dog out. They took him to the Valley Central Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Whitehall, Pa., where he had two-hour surgery. He received a blood transfusion because he’d lost a lot of blood.

“He just came home yesterday,” Heim said Tuesday.

He’s now placed in quarantine, and pain medicine has to be given to him regularly while his condition is assessed.

“He’s doing all right," said Heim. "He has to be quarantined because there was a bite that led up to this."

It seems this was not the first time Bugsy has bitten someone. On this occasion, he may have frightened by the kids dressed in all kinds of Halloween costumes.

“You shouldn’t let a dog go to the door to greet kids if he’s scared," Heim said. "You should keep him indoors, lock him in a room."

After Bugsy was rescued from under the van, police found 50 pellets in his neck and throat.

Although Heim could not give details on Tuesday, he did say, “We have a suspect.”

The suspect is expected to be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. In Pennsylvania, it’s legal for a dog owner to shoot and kill a dog. But to shoot a dog and then leave it to die of its wounds amounts to cruelty, maiming and torturing. This carries a penalty of one year in prison and a hefty fine.

The humane society is accepting help from the public to cover the treatment costs, already amounting to over $3,500.

Bugsy’s fate remains open.
“It will be a while until he’s up to adoption,” Heims said. "First he’s got to be checked out to make sure he’s okay."