Utah Humane Society offers reward for information leading to arrest in Eagle Mountain dog shooting
Jun 16, 2020, 10:51 AM | Updated: Jun 18, 2020, 3:04 pm
The Masson family dog was shot in their yard. Photo courtesy - KSL-TV
EAGLE MOUNTAIN – The Utah Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of whoever killed a family’s dog in Eagle Mountain.
On June 13, 2020, a 4-year-old miniature Doberman pinscher was shot and killed while a man, his young daughter, and her dog were all playing in their backyard.
In a statement released on Thursday, the humane society said they hope the reward “assists the Utah County Sheriff’s Department in obtaining information required to identify and charge whoever is responsible for this heinous act of animal cruelty.”
Utah Humane Society’s advocacy director, Rachel Heatley stated this is the fourth dog to be shot in two years in Eagle Mountian.
“For at least the fourth time in two years, a dog was shot in Eagle Mountain,” said Heatley. “While there is no indication that these shootings are directly related, the loose relationship between the shootings appears to be a lack of empathy for these innocent animals and the humans that love them.”
Eagle Mountain family’s dog shot in the backyard
The Masson family talked with KSL-TV. Michael Masson heard what sounded like fireworks at first while he was jumping on the trampoline with his daughter. The sound was coming from above the hill and Mason made the connection–it was not fireworks, it was a gunshot.
“I realized it was a gunshot, and we saw my dog running down the hill, Masson said. “He only made it 10 – 15 feet down the hill before he laid down.”
“That’s when I noticed two individuals walking over and kind of looking directly at him and watching him kind of lay down,” he said. “And then they turned around and walked away.”
Their home is near a popular bike path where neighborhood kids play, so they are concerned about the safety of neighboring kids as they play. Masson does not feel like the shooting was an accident.
They rushed Lucky to the hospital, but the damage to Lucky was too extensive and he passed from his injury. The bullet went right through his abdomen.
“He [Lucky] was very very sweet to our family. We thought we would have him until he was old, he was only four,” said Nicole Masson.
“We think that they definitely know that it was a dog,” Nicole Masson said. She went on to say, “It just really, really hurts, it’s like you know these pets really do mean a lot.”
The Massons hope this will be a warning to others to keep an eye out, to watch their children and their pets.
Lucky was buried in the family’s backyard.
Detectives are still working on the case, but no suspects have been caught at this point.
If you have any information call Det. Dallin Turner at 801-851-4023.
