Hayden Howard from Seymour, Indiana, is the proud owner of a 100-pound English Mastiff puppy named Jackson whom she loves dearly. However, one day while petting him, she noticed something unusual. As she ran her hands over his thick fur, she felt unusual marks and lumps on his skin.
Initially, Hayden suspected that the marks on Jackson’s torso were mosquito bites. However, upon closer inspection, she discovered that they were something far more serious.
To her surprise, Jackson’s skin had actual holes in it, and a lot of them. Puzzled and worried, Hayden took her beloved pet to the veterinarian, but what she discovered was beyond her imagination.
To Hayden’s shock, the marks on Jackson’s skin were not caused by insect bites, but were actually holes in his body. It was later revealed that Jackson had been shot multiple times.
When the veterinarian began to shave the dog’s fur to examine the wounds, they found 20 pellets and 7 BBs embedded in his body.
Additionally, they estimated that there were at least 20 more pellets and BBs lodged in his body that could not be removed. Unfortunately, the situation only got worse from there.
The veterinarian determined that there were likely an additional 20 bullets that had hit Jackson but had not penetrated his skin. Shockingly, Jackson had been shot over 60 times.
Hayden was left in disbelief and didn’t know how to react to such a callous act of violence towards her beloved pet. The police were called to the scene and were equally stunned by the extent of Jackson’s injuries.
““I’ve never seen an animal shot so many times in my life. It’s a terrible situation, and it’s heartbreaking to see,” said Assistant Chief Craig Hayes of the Seymour Police Department. As they investigated the case, they uncovered another incredible discovery.
BBs were found lodged in a nearby tree, and by tracing their trajectory, they were led to the adjacent property of Tim Woodward, a 44-year-old resident. This led the officers to obtain a search warrant for his residence.
Upon searching Woodward’s residence, authorities not only found a BB gun and pellets, but also methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Woodward was arrested on drug charges while police awaited test results to confirm that the rifle and pellets used to harm Jackson were the same, so they could pursue an animal cruelty case against him. Police suspect that Woodward may have been under the influence of narcotics when he shot at Jackson.
Jackson was lucky to have survived the horrific incident and was expected to fully recover. The story could have had a much more tragic ending, but fortunately, Jackson was able to receive the necessary medical care and treatment to heal his wounds.
While some news sites may refer to BB and pellet guns as “toys” or “fakes,” it is important to note that they are actually firearms that can cause serious harm. Although they are rarely fatal when used against people or larger animals, BB and pellet guns can still be lethal.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported about four deaths per year due to BB guns or pellet rifles, according to a CPSC Safety Alert. These types of guns can cause serious harm, especially if they hit someone in the eye or skull, increasing the risk of fatality.
Firing a BB or pellet gun approximately 60 times at Jackson was a life-threatening act of violence. Any crime committed with a BB or pellet gun should be taken seriously and treated as such, as it is a real firearm. Criminals who use these guns to harm innocent people or animals must be held accountable for their actions.