A family’s therapy dog that was helping two young children mourn their father was mysteriously shot three times and had to be put down.
Arielle Brandenburg of Minnesota was walking her cattle dog and red medicine cat mix, Gus, down her driveway with her two young children on June 15 when they lost sight of him for 15 minutes.
When Gus reappeared, he had been shot three times by an unknown gunman and his injuries were so severe that the family had to put him down.
Mourning his loss, Brandenburg said “Gus was a certified therapy dog who helped two young children through the most heart pain of their lives” after the death of his father, Jeremy, an Iraq War veteran.
Police are investigating the shooting and searching for the gunman.
A family’s therapy dog who was helping two young children grieve their military father was mysteriously shot in Minnesota last week.
Gus had comforted the children since the death of their Iraq War veteran father, who died a year and a half ago.
Arielle told Fox: ‘Every time he was anxious and scared and grieving, (Gus) would come over him and be a heavy blanket, and he really was his best friend, and he was there during the intense grieving process of losing a parent.’
The children’s father, an Iraq War veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, committed suicide a year and a half ago.
Gus comforted the children when they were upset or scared.
But on June 15, shortly after 6 p.m., Gus ran onto the porch of his house bleeding profusely from his back leg after being out with the family.
They called the police and rushed him to the emergency room, but veterinarians discovered that a .22-caliber bullet had entered his lungs and said they had no choice but to euthanize him.
The children had the opportunity to say goodbye to Gus, who had been with the family for five years.
Arielle told Fox: “There was enough comforting care for the kids to say goodbye, leave a mark on him and love him one last time.”
‘Reece said to Gus, “I hope you find dad and keep him company.”‘
Police investigate the shooting and search for the gunman.
Gus had been shot three times by an unknown gunman and his injuries were so severe that the family had to put him down.
The gunman has not yet been identified, but the Carver County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Writing on Facebook, Arielle said: “You really took a member of my family this morning and a piece of my heart.”
“If anyone has any information or can think of anyone who has done this in Norwood, please contact me.”
After sharing the incident on Facebook, Arielle told Fox that a neighbor had messaged her that her horse had also been shot, suggesting it could be a pattern of attacks.
Arielle said, “I’m terrified of putting my horses near the road or having my kids ride their dirt bikes alone.” It’s too scary right now.”