Police: Boy, 17, shot dog while on leave from halfway house

PITTSBURGH — Police in Pittsburgh's Perry neighborhood arrested a 17-year-old boy accused of shooting a family's terrier mix Saturday.

Authorities said Sydnee Napper's family rushed their dog to a local hospital after finding him shot outside their Marshall Avenue home.

The dog was released from the hospital after a blood transfusion procedure.

"I have no idea," Napper said when asked why someone would want to shoot her dog. "It was a senseless act."

According to police, the suspect lived in the Auberle halfway house and was allowed out on weekends, when the shooting occurred.

"If he wasn't caught, they he'd do it again. The next time it could have been a person or a child," said Kathy Hecker, a humane society agent.

Detectives said the boy shot with dog with a 9 mm handgun, and they haven't determined a motive.

"When you have a 17-year-old walking around carrying a 9 mm gun, and they use it on an innocent animal, there's a problem," Pittsburgh police Officer Christine Luffey said.

The boy, whose name has not been released, is charged with firearms violations, cruelty to animals and witness intimidation. He's at Shuman Detention Center.

WPXI