Puppy shot 3 times by pellet gun in Lumberton - By NORA MUCHANIC

The shooting happened around 10:00 a.m. Monday in the area of Flemish Way in Lumberton, New Jersey.


Officers arrived to find the dog's owner, Tom Cann, who said the Australian Labradoodle puppy, "Rocko," got out of his back yard.

When he found the puppy it was lying in the street, bleeding from the right shoulder.

"I went outside, he was in the street. I went to pick him up thinking he was hit and it turned out he got shot," Cann said, a veteran corrections officer who fought back tears while talking about his dog.

Cann said he saw a blue pickup truck nearby that left the scene as he approached, driving north on Flemish Way.

He could only describe the driver as a white male.

"Took off as soon as I stepped out the front porch," said Cann.

The puppy was transported to the Creek's Edge Animal Hospital in Hainesport, NJ. The veterinarians at Creek's Edge Hospital confirmed that the dog was shot with 3 pellets.

The puppy was later transported to the Langhorne, Pa. Veterinarian Hospital because one of the pellets just missed its spinal cord. The dog underwent surgery on Tuesday afternoon and was recovering.

Police are searching for anyone with information.

"We're actually canvassing the neighborhood trying to talk to some neighbors to see what they saw, if they have any information for us," said Det. Sgt. Tony DiLoreto of the Lumberton Police.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is requested to contact the Lumberton Twp. Special Investigations Unit at 609-267-1111 or 609-267-8300.

Source : http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/crime&id=8067929