not again...

[wx247]

Pets are still being shot in Pulaskifield, which has area residents questioning if the apparently random assassinations can be stopped.

The latest in the Pulaskifield pet victims has been a pair of two-month-old chocolate Lab puppies, owned by Bob and Marie Rakoski.

The latest incident took place over Valentine's weekend, when someone shot the dogs with a shotgun.

"I live down a long dirt road. I really feel like the person or persons had to walk up my driveway to shoot the dogs," said Marie Rakoski. "I feel like my dogs were targeted."

The incident took place in the early morning hours Saturday, February 14.

"The neighbors heard a loud vehicle, about 4 a.m.," she said.

Rakoski didn't know anything was wrong until she went to feed the animals the next morning.

"The little girl puppy had 24 shotgun pellets in her, according to the vet," she said. "The boy pup had half a dozen pellets in him. My Basset Hound had two or three."

Unfortunately, it seems as if the Rakoski dogs were not the only intended targets that morning.

"A neighbor heard a loud vehicle at about 10:30 p.m., and it woke up her boys," Rakoski said. "She called her daughter, right across the street, and both women flipped on their porch lights. A Blazer with a roll bar and daylights on top had come to a stop between the houses, and when the lights came on it sped off. But it came around a second time, about 4 a.m."

The women told Rakoski that they felt a yellow lab was the intended target.

"We've had two other dogs just disappear," Rakoski noted. "A six-month old Husky, Hank, disappeared right after Christmas. We heard there were about five dead dogs piled in a ditch over by the bowling alley, and someone told my son he thought that Hank might be one of them. We didn't investigate.

"The other dog, a bull dog, we had for about a year, and it disappeared last summer."

Rakoski did notify members of the Barry County Sheriff's Department, and Deputy Kerry Pippin began the investigation.

Sheriff Mick Epperly asked that anyone with information about the shootings or suspicious vehicles to call his office at 417/847-3121.

[Lindaloo]

Okay this is a complete outrage!!! Where is PETA when you really need them. This angers me to no end!!!

[Miss Mary]

Linda - I'm right with ya on this. I'm angry too. This is just awful. Makes me want to go hug my sweet dog. What is wrong with this world I ask? Sicko's out there.

Mary

[wx247]

There have been many occurring in this town, which is just 5 minutes SW of here... kind of like a suburb.

[Josephine96]

So the pets are being assassinated..? Somebody either has no heart at all there.. or has a sick mind or even a screw loose

[GalvestonDuck]

That's just sick! And sad! Someone with no heart whatsoever is doing this and they need to be caught soon.

You know what they say about the serial killer triad -- bed wetting, pyromania, and animal abuse/murder. At least one of them was present in the childhood history of every serial killer.

[wx247]

I think I know who it is, but I have no proof. I am just waiting for a more accurate description of the car and then I might call. I don't want to point fingers since I am not sure. I may be way off base.

This has been going on for some time now. I am not for sure how many total animals have been killed. We don't have the resources here to handle the situation as well as some counties could.

[Lindaloo]

I think I know who it is, but I have no proof. I am just waiting for a more accurate description of the car and then I might call. I don't want to point fingers since I am not sure. I may be way off base.

This has been going on for some time now. I am not for sure how many total animals have been killed. We don't have the resources here to handle the situation as well as some counties could.

Well if it were me I would go to a Detective with my suspicions. Trust me, they are always wanting tips to at least be able to check it out. Your name will not be mentioned Garrett. The police will get the proof if your suspicions pan out.

[wx247]

We have a local TIPS hotline. Could I call that?

[j]

Okay this is a complete outrage!!! Where is PETA when you really need them. This angers me to no end!!!

PETA is about equal rights for animals. It would seem that with their belief that animals deserve the same rights as humans because it has nothing to do with intelligence, only the ability to suffer, that they would be front and center of this issue to protect the suffering of these animals.

This is what PETA SHOULD be doing, to back up their doctrine, but they are more concerned with things like getting the Green Bay Packers name changed to Green Bay Pickers, or convincing the world that red meat causes cancer.

[petal*pusher]

Whew! You guys are being pretty quick to "dis" PETA! No, I'm not a member......tho I AM a vegetarian.....(j, gotta tell ya, that red meat does cause big problems in some people!)

What about the Humane Society?? This wonderful organization was actually instrumental in the early 1900's in getting help for abused children! There were NO laws in place that would protect kids.....just animals.....so the Humane Society stepped in when needed.

I share your disgust about these horrific acts!! It sure seems like someone would be able to finger the responsible people......but intimidation can be a powerful thing!.......p

[Lindaloo]

Well in defense of PETA I recently had to call them in to help me. They did an amazing job. They could do so many great things for animals. I could not get the Humane Society to step in and do anything.

And I agree with you about the radical side of them j.

[Stephanie]

I think I know who it is, but I have no proof. I am just waiting for a more accurate description of the car and then I might call. I don't want to point fingers since I am not sure. I may be way off base.

This has been going on for some time now. I am not for sure how many total animals have been killed. We don't have the resources here to handle the situation as well as some counties could.

I think that you can still let the authorities know about your suspicions Garrett. It'll be kept confidential. Think about it.

[Stephanie]

We have a local TIPS hotline. Could I call that?

Yes - go for it Garrett. If you're wrong, you're wrong, but you'd still be doing a service to the animals and the community.

[Lindaloo]

Go for it Garrett!!

[wx247]

I called a local TIPS hotline. It is like a voice mail system I guess. That was strange, but I voiced my thoughts. I know someone who drives a Blazer like that and I know they are kind of crazy. :o We shall see what happens.

[Lindaloo]

**pats Garrett on the back** Good for you. You did the right thing.

[wx247]

**pats Garrett on the back** Good for you. You did the right thing.

Thanks. I was nervous. I don't know why. But I feel better now knowing that I did something.

[Stephanie]

Exactly Garrett! Good job!

[azsnowman]

I "DARE" someone to mess with our dogs! I hope to HADES they catch these SOBS that are responsible for these actions and HANG UM HIGH!

Garrett, you did the right thing!

I'm tellin' ya, Az has the TOUGHEST animal cruelty laws in the lower 48 bar NONE! If they did that here, they would NEVER, EVER see daylight AGAIN!

Dennis