Dog shot to death in backyard
Fort Smith, AR (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Oct 9, 2009
County: Sebastian

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Fort Smith resident Vickie McGinnis said her black Labrador, Max, was shot and killed last week while she was away from home running errands.

She's lived in the neighborhood for 18 years and has dealt with several break-in attempts, but said nothing prepared her for what her daughter discovered in their back yard.

"I said, 'You need to go feed the animals,'" McGinnis said. "She went out the back door with the food and around the gate and she found him lying by the gate."

McGinnis said Max, a stray her son took in several years ago, was shot multiple times.

An officer from the Fort Smith police department came to the residence and took several pictures, which have been entered into evidence. The department has yet to name a suspect, but said their investigation is continuing.

"Whoever did this was standing in the alley behind my house shooting toward my house," McGinnis said. "My daughter could have been in that backyard."

McGinnis said Max was a friendly dog whose memory now lives on through his daughter, Goober.

"It meant the world to me to know that when that dog barked I could look out the window and see if something was wrong. It was my early warning system," McGinnis said.

McGinnis told police she has suspicion about who shot her dog but has no proof.

40/29 News has learned that police were called to McGinnis' residence last month after a neighbors dog jumped her fence and started fighting with Max.

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