- Hawaii, USA -
Honolulu police are investigating after a dog was found on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, with two bullet wounds on the side of the road in Maili.
Cassie Moniz, with Aloha Animal Outreach, received a call around 4:30 p.m. about an injured dog laying on the side of the road after being hit by a car. The driver did not stop.
When Cassie arrived on the scene, she found a male dog who was covered in fleas, ticks, ants, and in pain.
PAWS of Hawaii said in the Facebook post that Cassie took the 1-year-old furbaby named Nakoa, to VCA Animal Hospital in Kapolei.
After taking X-rays, veterinarians learned that Nakoa had been shot twice. PAWS of Hawaii said: “To make it worse, this was NOT a BB gun, but real bullets. Someone shot this innocent animal and left him to die on the side of the road.”
One of the two wounds was old, while the other was recent.
KITV reports that Ku'ulei Durand, Executive Director of PAWS of Hawaii, explained: “It fully severed his spine, just shattering the vertebrae. They said if the bullet had missed his spine, we would've been able to save him. But, because it severed his spine he has severe damage to all of his body, and he's going to be a paraplegic dog for the rest of his life.”
Not only that, but veterinarians also said Nakoa’s leg would have to be amputated, so, due to the poor quality of life Nakoa would have, the decision was made to euthanize him.
Durand also explained that the bullets vets extracted from Nakoa’s body will be sent “over to authorities to try and figure out who did this to this dog.” PAWS of Hawaii said Nakoa was shot with a 9mm.
Furthermore, vets performed a CT scan and as Durand explained: “It's actually very important to do his CT scan because not only will this tell us what's wrong with him, the CT scan would be able to be used in prosecuting whoever it is that did this to him.”
In announcing Nakoa’s passing, PAWS of Hawaii wrote in a Facebook post: “It’s with a heavy heart that we said goodbye to sweet Nakoa. Our hearts break as tears fill our eyes tonight. Thankfully he knew he was loved & supported by soooo many these last two days. We pray he felt kindness & love around him as he passed over to the rainbow bridge. We are very sorry that a human had enacted such cruel crimes toward this innocent soul. We wish we could have gotten a chance to show him & teach him a life that’s filled with endless love, kisses & what a true companionship is.
E ho’omaha me ka maluhia. Aloha mau loa. Poina ‘ole. (Rest in peace. Forever loved. Never forgotten.)”
If you have any information, I beg you, come forward and speak up for Nakoa.
Call Honolulu police at (808) - 529 - 3111. Thank you!
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Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
#animalcruelty #animalslivesmatter #deathpenaltyforanimalabusers #dogshot #hitbyacar #investigation #deaddog #maili #hawaii
Additional Sources:
Poi Dogs and Popoki – Nakoa’s video