Accidents can happen, but this situation likely isn’t one of them. Belleann Maffessoli of Vernon, Connecticut, faced a terrible tragedy after her black German Shepherd named Karo vanished. She always let him out on her large property about the same time each day, but when he didn’t return or come when called, she knew something was wrong. Then, she heard a gunshot in the distance, and her heart froze.
She spent several days searching for her missing pup, hoping that she misheard the gunshot. But sadly, her worst nightmare soon came to life when she finally found sweet Karo.
Karo’s Tragic Incident
Karo is usually a very well-behaved dog. He runs around in his yard and always comes back when he’s told to. So, Maffessoli found it strange when one day, he didn’t return. Suddenly, she realized that something was terribly wrong.
“Two minutes later, and I heard a gunshot and I can hear it was out deep into the woods, didn’t settle right with me,” said Maffessoli.
First, she reached out to the community, asking if they’d seen her lost dog. She spent two nights looking for him around the wooded area of her property. But when she finally found him, it was the worst possible outcome. Someone had shot Karo dead on Maffessoli’s property. Maffessoli and her family were in unimaginable pain from this devastating loss.
“I was devastated. I fell to the ground, I felt like my heart was ripped out of me,” said Maffessoli.
A Call For Justice
Vernon police rushed to the scene and quickly found the man who shot her dog. He claimed it was an accident because he mistook Karo for a coyote. But for Maffessoli, that’s no excuse. The man was hunting illegally on her property and shot without giving it a second thought. She refuses to let Karo die without getting the justice he deserves.
“Safety is number one, you don’t just shoot at anything, you have to know what you’re doing,” said Maffessoli.
The police are still investigating the situation, but Maffessoli continues to warn others. She reminds all gun owners to be especially careful when handling their firearms. She wants to ensure that no one else goes through a tragic situation like this. Hopefully, Karo will soon get justice for his inexcusable death, but only time will tell. In the meantime, his family will honor him in any way they can.
H/T: fox61.com
Featured Image: Screenshot, fox61.com
Toledo, United States.
