PORT ANGELES — Summer Evert took her beloved family dog to the veterinarian on Thursday with what she believed was an injury from a collision with a car — but when she got there she found out the black Labrador retriever had been shot with a gun.
Daisy had to be euthanized as result of her injuries, Evert said.
Veterinarians at Blue Mountain Veterinary Clinic said the weapon probably was a .22 caliber gun, Evert said they had told her.
“They said that her body was full of shrapnel,” Evert said.
Daisy, who was 2¬½ years old, had been a gift for Evert’s 3-year-old daughter, Deia.
When Deia’s father, Sgt. Robert Evert, learned he would be deployed for 13 months in Iraq, Daisy was given to Deia about a year ago to comfort her.
Robert Evert, who is in the Bremerton National Guard unit, left in July for a Wisconsin base and then in August for Iraq.
He is expected to return this August.
“My little girl refers to Daisy as her best friend,” Summer Evert said.
“Daisy was the nicest, gentlest dog ever.
“They played for hours.
“When we found Daisy at the pound, it was specifically for a playmate for my daughter, to help ease the stress of this long deployment of her papa.”
Daisy had slipped out of the family’s yard, and a neighbor found her in his garage, Evert said.
The shooting, which was near the family’s home on 12th Street between the Eighth Street bridges, is somewhat of a mystery, Port Angeles police said.
No suspects
Sgt. Glenn Roggenbuck said there are no suspects.
“There are some situations in which it could be justified,” he said.
“If it were a vicious dog attack or something, it would probably be OK.”
He said if person felt the need to shoot an animal, he or she should call the police.
“We would like to know, because it isn’t OK to just shoot a stray dog,” Roggenbuck said.
Beyond losing her dog, Evert said she worries for other dogs that might momentarily escape their owner’s attention.
“I was only gone for an hour to take my daughter to gymnastics,” she said.
“Daisy hadn’t been out for very long when we found her.
“I hope that people will reconsider the next time they see what they might think is a stray dog.”
Anyone with information on what might have happened to Daisy can phone Port Angeles police at 360-452-4545.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
