Arrow hits dog

A disturbing story of a dog shot with an arrow in Welland.

The search is on for whoever shot “Tara” leaving her yelping in pain. As Lauran Sabourin reports, the dog’s owners can’t image who could be so heartless, as to shoot a friendly dog.

Watching Tara bouncing around the house Wednesday you’d never suspect the ordeal she went through the night before.

Tara was out for her usual walk with Christina Hirshu. They were on path near the railway tracks behind Nelles Road in Welland about 4 in the afternoon.

“I was just about 20 feet further up here. And Tara was over here somewhere in the bush.” said Christina.

“And I then I heard a bang and I heard her yelp. I was calling for her and she wasn’t coming.”

Someone had shot Tara with an arrow right through her hind quarter. Christina was in shock when she saw her. She called 911 and rushed Tara to emergency surgery. The dog is lucky the arrow didn’t kill her.

Investigators figure the Tara who’s really friendly came up to the person. That’s when the perpetrator took aim at her and shot the arrow. They fled and left her in the field yelping
in pain.

Investigators with the welland humane society have seized the arrow. It’s a typical target arrow. John Greer from the Welland Humane Society had this statement:

“We do have some leads on the case that we are following up. We have two officers assigned to it. We’re hopeful we’ll get some success in our investigation.”

They’re also asking for any information as to who might have targeted Tara.

Tara belongs to Anne Stanislow and Pam Hirchu, Christina’s mother. She’s a rescue dog. She was abandoned on the streets of Welland.

That’s why someone heartlessly trying to kill her hurts the family all the more.

“I don’t know how a person could be so angry to do something to such a gentle dog. That wouldn’t hurt anybody and do nothing but protect others.”