Family dog shot in Becker County

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For one couple, a family vacation on the lake turned into stressing over an injured pet and questions and concerns of what could have been.

Dominik Alexander is up from Chicago with his wife and three boys, visiting relatives on Buffalo Lake in Becker County. The couple’s quiet family vacation has taken a turn for the worse.

“We came up to take them fishing, just to relax and have a good time — which we were, until last nights occurrence.”

Out of nowhere, the family dog “Kaiser” started bleeding from a puncture wound. After he started throwing up blood, Alexander rushed the dog to Fargo for treatment.

“I thought maybe he landed on a stick or a nail or something happened.”

But the vet pointed out an entrance and exit wound from a bullet. Dominik said no one heard a gunshot, and the dog never left the yard, which means whoever fired the shot that hit Kaiser, did so while Dominik’s three boys were playing close by.

“It’s just such an unfortunate incident — it’s so unnecessary,” Alexander said. “I don’t understand what would compel somebody to shoot a bullet across a yard into somebody else’s yard to hit an animal … you never know what you’re going to hit.”

While authorities investigate the case, there is one disturbing fact for the family. This isn’t the first time a dog has been shot on that property.

“My dad’s dog, a German Shepherd named Fallon, was shot and killed about six years ago and then at the same time one of the other dogs that they were taking care of was shot at and hit,” said Alexander’s stepbrother, Bryan Schoenberger. “The next door neighbor’s dog was shot and put under their porch and then I’ve heard down the road here a dog shot and a cat shot as well.”

It’s leaving them wonder, when is it going to stop?

“I’m now just worried about my family here.”

Becker County Sheriff Tim Gordon said authorities continue to advise people to keep dogs restrained, especially when the number of dogs running loose increases every spring.

He said police don’t know where Kaiser was exactly at the time he was shot, which is why he’s not putting the blame on the owners in this case. But many times, dogs are shot when they’re running loose.

“That’s why we plead with people not to let their dogs run,” Gordon said.

If you have any information, you’re asked to call Schoenberger at 218-841-2006. Some of the family members are giving a cash reward to anyone with information.

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Detroit Lakes Tribune reporter Riham Feshir contributed to this report. The Detroit Lakes Tribune, WDAY and the Echo Press are owned by Forum Communications Company.

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