Police Blotter: Bloomfield Hills Dog Shot With Air Gun

Family Pet Shot, Euthanized

Officers with the are investigating an animal cruelty report stemming from the apparent shooting of a household pet, officials said. A resident in the 1000 block of Tiverton Drive arrived at the department shortly after 5 p.m. on June 14 to report their veterinarian found what was believed to be an air gun bullet in their dog's lung, a report said.

The resident explained that the 11-year-old Brittany Spaniel was let outside for about 15 minutes the previous night and returned with a little blood on the right hip. The dog's owner told police they believed the dog hurt itself on a branch, according to a report. When the dog was "not acting right" the following day, the resident took it to the veterinarian, where an x-ray revealed the projectile lodged in the lung area.

Reports said the resident's family decided to euthanize the dog due to its injuries, and that a .177 caliber air gun round was removed from its body.

Discharging a weapon in a residential zone is a crime, and Bloomfield Hills has an ordinance prohibiting it that specifically names air rifles and pistols, Chief Rick Matott said. There have been no other reported attacks and no complaints from the neighborhood about loose dogs, he added.

The investigation remains open. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 248-644-4200.

For questions about this blotter, email Art.Aisner@Patch.com.