A therapy dog has been fatally injured in Squamish after a hunter mistook it for a wolf.
The dog was on a hike with its owner and her friend when it ran up ahead of the pair.
The owner, Valley Calderoni, says that she was in the midst of putting leashes on nine of the other dogs that that she cares for when she heard a shot fired.
When she ran ahead she could see her dog, Kaoru, was bleeding from a gunshot wound. She says that she ran to the animal’s side as soon as she saw him in distress.
The dog died shortly after he received the gunshot.
The shooting occurred on Crown land near the highway by Lucille Lake, which is half an hour north of Squamish.
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While it is legal to hunt in the area, CBC notes that, “it is legal hunting season on Crown land for mule deer and black bears. Wolves are also in season in parts of the surrounding area, but not where the shooting took place, according to conservation officers.”
Therapy Dog Fatally Injured By Hunter
Karoru was considered a very special dog, and was used in therapy and rehabilitation. He was able to help children with autism and even a grieving man overcome the death of wife.
Squamish RCMP are currently investigating the accident but add the hunter has completely cooperated.
They add that hunters should exercise extreme caution while hunting and take extra care in identifying their targets. Many dogs may appear to look like wolves at a quick glance.
RCMP advise that it is wise to put something bright on your dog so that it may be more easily identified. This is not the first time that a shooting of this nature has taken place in the province.
You can donate to Kaoru’s GOFUNDME page here.