Dog shot, resulting in death
Oakhaven, TN (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008
County: Shelby
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
An Oakhaven couple called the cops after they say a teenage boy pulled out a gun and shot their family dog.
It happened April 1st, across the street from Oakhaven Elementary School near Christine and Tchulahoma.
"He just looked at me like he was smiling, he started wagging his tail, then he laid down and started gurgling," said Michael Hurdle.
He still gets emotional talking about what it was like to hold his dog Rusty as he bled to death in his arms.
"This was a little before 8:00 p.m. when it happened, [the vet] called me at 9:17 p.m. said he didn't make it."
The whole incident still puzzles him. He says a teen came out of nowhere, approached Rusty near the fence in their yard, and pulled out a gun.
"He pointed the gun right at Rusty, and 'Boom!' I saw the blue flame, heard the shot," he said.
The shooter took off, and Hurdle ran after him. But he stopped when he says the teen pointed the gun at him.
His wife, Patricia heard the commotion, came outside and saw Rusty collapsed inside their garage.
"I heard something like water pouring, and I looked down and saw the blood coming out. So I ran in and got a towel, wrapped it around him," said Patricia Hurdle.
They say their other dog, Raven, still looks for her companion.
"She goes to the car looks for him, still goes down to the spot where it happened," she said.
The hurdles rescued both pets from a local animal shelter. Rusty was only six months old when they got him.
The couple says they're heartbroken, but hopeful the shooter will be caught.
Michael Hurdle was able to get a pretty good look at the suspect. He filed a police report and a detective has been assigned to their case. So far no one's been arrested. References« TN State Animal Cruelty Map
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