- New Zealand -
UPDATE: March 11, 2021
Kelly Thompson has created a petition addressed to New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, District Commander Superintendent Paul Basham, Deputy Commissioner Operations Glenn Dunbier, and Southland Commander Inspector Mike Bowman.
The purpose is that “the file is reopened and reviewed and the previous owner is charged under the Animal Welfare Act (1999), ALL weapons are removed from his possession and ALL animals are surrendered and he is forbidden from owning or possessing animals again.”
~ Original story:
In September 2020, the SPCA launched an investigation after a dog was found shot with an arrow, in the streets of Gore.
The Gore District Council animal control team were alerted and staff took the furbaby to a vet.
The arrow had come within an inch of hitting a main artery.
It entered the furbaby’s ear and lodged in her throat.
She had to undergo surgery to remove the arrow.
The furbaby, described by STUFF as a Bull Arab Kelpie cross, was treated at Combined Vet Services in Gore and then placed in the care of Furever Homes.
Donna Keil, chairwoman of Furever Homes, said she knew of the dog, named Lou.
Ms. Keil said Lou was dehydrated and there was no food in her stomach when she was found.
At the time of the incident Ms. Keil said the incident caused Lou to become deaf in her right ear and added that even if Lou recovered, she would remain understandably traumatized.
One month later, in October 2020, STUFF reported that Kelly Thompson had been taking care of Lou and said: “The vets have worked on the physical, and now we’re very, very slowly working on the mental side of things. She’s scared of males, scared of children and scared of the dark.”
The senseless shooting caused scaring in Lou’s esophagus and as a result, Lou could only eat soft food.
Slowly, Lou started putting on weight and the peanut butter she loves so much also helped with that!
Kelly took Lou out for walks, and they rode together in the car.
Kelly said at the time: “For what she’s been through she’s doing incredibly well, and she’s a real character, but she is very, very timid.”
Kelly now tells me that: “Lou has severe PTSD and anxiety. She is deaf in the right ear, she has no blink reflex in her right eye, her right nostril is paralyzed as well as the right side of her mouth.”
Five months after the incident, there is no news about a possible suspect being questioned or connected to the crime.
The culprit is out there enjoying life after shooting a defenseless dog who is still facing hardships.
As reported by STUFF back in October 2020, a police spokesperson said the investigation into how Lou was injured was ongoing.
“Once complete, as with any criminal offending, the decision to prosecute is guided by the Solicitor General’s Prosecution Guidelines. These guidelines require police to consider whether the evidence is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction, and whether a prosecution is required in the public interest.”
Kelly still hopes that whoever hurt Lou will be prosecuted.
Voice For Us calls out to the authorities to make sure that the focus on this crime remains,
and that whoever is responsible for cruelly harming a defenseless dog will be charged and prosecuted.
The message must be that whoever harms animals will face criminal charges!
If you wish to catch up with Lou’s updates, you can check out her Facebook page.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.