It’s heartbreaking to think that some people should never be allowed to own or interact with animals.

A few years ago, Hayden Howard noticed that her dog, Jackson, wasn’t acting like himself. Jackson, an English Mastiff, had been playing in the backyard while Hayden was inside. When she called him in, she noticed what appeared to be bug bites all over his body.

But a closer look revealed something far more horrifying.

Jackson hadn’t been bitten by bugs—he had been shot multiple times.

“I was completely shocked; I didn’t know what to think,” Hayden told WXIN.

Hayden rushed Jackson to the veterinarian, where the extent of his injuries became clear. The vet discovered numerous small bullets embedded in Jackson’s body, fired from a BB gun.

“There was one under his eyelid, one in his ear, one in his knee—they were everywhere,” Hayden recounted.

To remove the pellets, the veterinarian had to shave nearly all of Jackson’s fur. They managed to extract 27 bullets, but another 20 had to be left in place. In addition, the vet found 20 more bullet holes throughout Jackson’s body.

In total, Jackson had nearly 70 gunshot wounds.

“I have never seen an animal shot that many times,” said Assistant Chief Craig Hayes of the Seymour Police Department. “It’s a very severe case and heartbreaking to witness.”

It’s unimaginable that someone could inflict such cruelty on a dog, especially one that has never hurt anyone.

The police quickly began investigating and identified a suspect in a neighboring yard. Their search led them to a neighbor’s house, where they found a rifle, ammunition, a BB gun, and pellets. They also uncovered methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at the scene.

I hope the perpetrator faces a long prison sentence and the full consequences of their actions. They should never be allowed near an animal again.

Despite everything, Hayden reports that Jackson is recovering well.

You can view the news article about the incident here:

Although BB and pellet guns are sometimes dismissed as “toys” or “fake” by some news outlets, these are real weapons capable of causing serious harm.

When a crime is committed using a pellet or BB gun, it should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. These are real firearms, and those who use them to harm innocent beings should face appropriate legal consequences.

I sincerely hope Jackson makes a full recovery and can soon enjoy playing in his backyard again.