Therapy dog killed by a hunter in front of owner

[Courtesy of Valley Calderoni / Facebook ]

If you have a dog in your life, you are already familiar with the intimacy and bonds you share with your dog or dogs. They just simply become an important part of your life. After your bonded dog passed away, it becomes really hard to get over the multitude of emotions much like losing a family member.

A Canadian woman had to endure that and ten times worse at her beloved dog was shot dead in front of her by a hunter.

Valley Calderoni who founded Canine Valley, an animal rehabilitation center in British Columbia, Canada, was hiking with her colleague, Markie Blackburn, her dog and nine other dogs near Lake Lucile in the area on September 19.

Calderoni wrote on her Facebook page after the incident, "The hike was amazing; the dogs were so well behaved, training went beautifully." It was just "like any other day" unbeknownst to her what was about to take place.

They "were finishing the hike" and "putting the leashes back on the dogs" as they were nearing the parking area. Then she "heard the bang". She described it to be very loud and instinctively she crouched down from danger. When she looked up, she found her beloved dog Kaoru shot dead about "10 feet in front of" her.

In disbelief and shock, Calderoni "ran toward her" and "tried to save her" in vain. She realized her Kaoru will not make it and did not want her to suffer. Calderoni told her loyal canine, "just go, just let go baby girl." Kaoru died in her arms.

Kaoru was a female Tamaskan, a breed of dog that resembles wolf in appearance. She was a therapy service dog. She was trained to work with autistic children. The calm dog would sit quietly next to hyper children to help them calm down and tolerate their rough handling, knowing her important role.

A hunter who killed the dog mistook Kaoru as a wolf and thought that Calderoni, her colleague, and their dogs were in danger and fatally shot the dog. Heartbroken Calderoni allegedly told the hunter, "the only thing that can make this better would be if you never, ever take another life again."

According to a British Columbia conservation officer Kent Popjes, who is investigating the case told NBC that the hunter was "completely cooperative". He added, "It appears to be an error in judgment."

Currently, it is legal hunting season in Canada for mule deer and black bears.

Calderoni set up a GoFundMe campaign page to raise money to extend no-hunting zone in the area where Kaoru was killed and to fund training another therapy dog.

Kwak, Min Jung = abiel@ajunews.com

KwakMin-jung abiel@ajunews.com

Therapy dog killed by a hunter in front of owner

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