A series of attacks on defenseless pets in southern Indiana led concerned citizens and police to hold a town hall meeting Wednesday night.At least one dog was been shot, and another poisoned in the small township of Utica.One of the cruel attacks was caught on surveillance video. Both animals are still alive.The dog who was poisoned with anti-freeze is struggling but will survive, according to the owner.The dog who was shot is recovering from a neck wound.That dog's name is Frieda.Utica police say the rottweiler was intentionally wounded Sunday night while standing in a yard on Fifth Street.In surveillance video, Frieda can be seen jumping into the air, scared and confused, after being hit by a bullet. Watch the surveillance video below:Police say the shot was fired from a 22-caliber long rifle.”I let her out. I hooked her up on the leash. I had it out there. I sat down and I hear her yelping,” said Frieda's owner, Nathaniel Badgett. He and other family members were able to stop the bleeding and rush Frieda to an animal hospital.X-rays show a bullet lodged in the dog's neck.The slug is still in there, touching Frieda's spine, but the canine is expected to make a full recovery.Utica Police are on the hunt for the shooter, who may also be responsible for poisoning another dog on the same property and perhaps more.”So far we've had one confirmed shot, one unconfirmed shot. We're still trying to figure out on that. And then we've had one confirmed poison and one unconfirmed. So we're still trying to work on the other two. It's just a lot of hearsay. That's what we called the meeting tonight,” said Utica Police Department Corporal Hunter Morrow, who added that there are two persons of interest.One suspect is an adult and the other is a 17-year-old with a prior conviction for shooting animals with a firearm.”The minor had a prior history with abuse for animals in animal neglect. The tip that came through suggested a firearm. So we are looking into that,” said Morrow.Arlene Tyler lives directly behind the house targeted by the gunman.”That bullet could have come right across an open space and could have come right in my bedroom window,” Tyler said.Utica police say they've interviewed the adult suspect, but are having trouble tracking down the teen suspect, who may have been a visitor to the township.”They've got to catch this fool, whoever it is,” said Tyler. Police say once arrested, the person responsible will be charged with four felonies for injuring the animals and for discharging a firearm with children nearby.
A series of attacks on defenseless pets in southern Indiana led concerned citizens and police to hold a town hall meeting Wednesday night.
At least one dog was been shot, and another poisoned in the small township of Utica.
One of the cruel attacks was caught on surveillance video. Both animals are still alive.
The dog who was poisoned with anti-freeze is struggling but will survive, according to the owner.
The dog who was shot is recovering from a neck wound.
That dog's name is Frieda.
Utica police say the rottweiler was intentionally wounded Sunday night while standing in a yard on Fifth Street.
In surveillance video, Frieda can be seen jumping into the air, scared and confused, after being hit by a bullet. Watch the surveillance video below:
Police say the shot was fired from a 22-caliber long rifle.
“I let her out. I hooked her up on the leash. I had it out there. I sat down and I hear her yelping,” said Frieda's owner, Nathaniel Badgett.
He and other family members were able to stop the bleeding and rush Frieda to an animal hospital.
X-rays show a bullet lodged in the dog's neck.
The slug is still in there, touching Frieda's spine, but the canine is expected to make a full recovery.
Utica Police are on the hunt for the shooter, who may also be responsible for poisoning another dog on the same property and perhaps more.
“So far we've had one confirmed shot, one unconfirmed shot. We're still trying to figure out on that. And then we've had one confirmed poison and one unconfirmed. So we're still trying to work on the other two. It's just a lot of hearsay. That's what we called the meeting tonight,” said Utica Police Department Corporal Hunter Morrow, who added that there are two persons of interest.
One suspect is an adult and the other is a 17-year-old with a prior conviction for shooting animals with a firearm.
“The minor had a prior history with abuse for animals in animal neglect. The tip that came through suggested a firearm. So we are looking into that,” said Morrow.
Arlene Tyler lives directly behind the house targeted by the gunman.
“That bullet could have come right across an open space and could have come right in my bedroom window,” Tyler said.
Utica police say they've interviewed the adult suspect, but are having trouble tracking down the teen suspect, who may have been a visitor to the township.
“They've got to catch this fool, whoever it is,” said Tyler.
Police say once arrested, the person responsible will be charged with four felonies for injuring the animals and for discharging a firearm with children nearby.
