Unusual Changes

Having a dog as a pet is nearly every child’s dream, and the Howard kids were indeed no exception to it! So, when Hayden introduced Jackson to her family, they readily welcomed and showered him with lots of hugs and kisses. In no time, the doggy was seen jovially accompanying Hayden’s children in their games and fascinating everyone with his friendly disposition.

Perhaps, such good times weren’t meant to last long in the Howards’ residence as, after some time, the owner noticed peculiar changes in Jackson. Did he have any deformities that Hayden was unaware of?

To Create a Warm Bond

Some people might perceive pets as a threat, thinking they invite diseases and pose a risk to the kids’ health. Yet, the same isn’t true for Indiana-born Hayden, who wanted her children to grow up with their first pet. This would help them learn to take on responsibilities and become better caretakers of someone else, especially animals.

Jackson was so tiny in size that he was pampered and treated just like an infant. Hayden wanted to count on the youngsters for Jackson’s security and well-being when she wasn’t around. Only time would tell if her decision was correct!

Amiable Giants

As days passed, the puppy was gaining more and more weight, and it was apparent that Jackson, being an English Mastiff, was to become a colossal hound on reaching adulthood. He also had a great appetite as he always licked away every bit of food on his plate.

Besides growing up in size, the pup also developed an endearing personality that helped him win everyone’s heart. Hayden’s neighbors, too, admired the mutt when he pranced around their lawns, fervently wagging his tail. So, none in their wildest dreams could ever bear a grudge against an innocent pet like Jackson, but what if someone stood an exception?

Early Indications

Weekends were Jackson’s favorite time when the entire household wraps up all their chores by the day to enjoy a lovely evening together. So naturally, the doggy, too, didn’t want to be left out. He cutely curled up beside Hayden on the sofa, yearning to be cuddled and petted.

Just as the dog-mom adoringly caressed him, she felt strange bumps while touching his tummy. Even on taking a closer peek at his abdomen, Hayden failed to figure out what it was. Who knows, maybe these early indications were going to come out as a severe threat in the future for Jackson?!

The Strange Scars

English Mastiffs are great to cuddle, so it wasn’t just Hayden who loved fondling the pup but also her kids. It was a crucial part of their regular bonding ritual! Plus, Jackson’s hide was so silky that one could hardly resist caressing him.

So, naturally, Hayden was shocked to notice his fluffs growing dry and dull beside the lumps on his torso region. To her utter disbelief, Jackson was gradually turning spotted! Of course, the fur-mom bathed him well regularly and took great care of his diet. So then, what could these scars possibly be?

Inching Away On Purpose

Although Jackson’s behavior seemed normal mostly, he started pulling away from his mom each time her fingers brushed against the spots on his body. The puppy’s discomfort was apparent when Hayden touched to examine his bumps. Still, he never failed to respond to her affectionately.

Assuming that Jackson was not in his best mood, Hayden chose not to fret over his reactions. Moreover, she knew that dogs are susceptible to specific body parts when caressing, so perhaps that’s the only reason he inched away from her. Yet, little did the Howard family know that a terrible surprise was in store for them!

 The Bugs Or The Weather?

Hayden couldn’t shake off her anxieties about her pup’s mysterious spots. She kept surmising the possible causes and wondered if it was due to the changing weather. Summertime can become a little uncomfortable for large furry dogs like Mastiffs. So perhaps the overheating of his abdomen makes him reactive to touches.

Also, this spirited pooch spends the entire afternoon playing with the Howard juniors. Who knows, maybe Jackson’s fur got caught in some spiky plant and caused a pollen infection on his skin? Or what if it’s a bug bite from lying on the lawn for long? Hayden had to figure out this mystery soon!

As days passed since Hayden first discovered the dark spots on Jackson, she started supposing that whatever was bothering him had finally disappeared because the mutt was back to being his playful self, prancing around the house with the kids.

None would deny that Jackson was living his best days with the Howards. Whether he was bitten by bugs or had an infection some days ago seemed unimportant now – for the canine was full of life without any signs of pain or discomfort. Hayden only hoped that everything would remain fine for her dear pet, but eventually, it didn’t

 Was Jackson Suffering Silently?

The Howards’ pet loved sprawling in their front yard besides playing with Hayden’s children all afternoon. So, it was not unnatural for him to be exposed to several insects and creepy crawlies. Ants or fleas could easily sneak into his furs and bite the poor canine to their hearts’ content!

Moreover, the changing weather invites creatures like bees and wasps, who could easily sting Jackson. Although the adorable dog seemed usually joyous, Hayden couldn’t relieve her tension regarding the bumps and dark patches. Speculating that her darling pooch was bitten or stung by poisonous insects, she just hoped he wasn’t silently suffering.

 Long-lasting Marks

Despite everything being normal about Jackson’s health, there was only one dilemma in Hayden’s mind – why weren’t the spots fading yet? Furthermore, he seemed to grow more of them with each passing day! The pet-mom took the utmost care in bathing him regularly to maintain his spotless coat, so the marks should have disappeared if they weren’t too serious.

Whenever she examined Jackson’s scars, her suspicions always heightened. Was her dear pet suffering from a contagious disease? Although she decided to consult a vet, Hayden tried putting her nerves to rest by believing that those patches were nothing but simple flea bites. If only the pet-mom could be right!

When Bleeding Starts

Jackson never seemed to care for his spotty coat, as he gladly jumped around the house in his usual high spirits. Needless to say, the Howards’ pooch was among the cleanest pets in town, from all the routine washing Hayden does to him. So in no way could he still have bugs or fleas hiding in his furry skin!

Yet, it was incredibly alarming for the concerned fur-mom when she saw that Jackson’s scars started to bleed. Although it didn’t appear like a severe wound, red patches on his soft cream coat were clearly visible from across the room.

Off To A Vet 

Hayden no longer could keep her cool, now that she knew her loving dog was not at all fine. It was high time to take him for a thorough check-up at the vet’s. The sooner the physician figures out Jackson’s illness, the earlier he can start his necessary treatment.

The Howards yearned to get their fluffy pet back. So, Hayden decided not to waste a minute and rushed her pooch to a local veterinary clinic on Monday morning. Finally, she would have an answer to the mysterious spots on Jackson’s body!

Consulting The Expert

Although there were many animal physicians in Hayden’s locality, she preferred to consult Dr. Steve Sunbury. With a remarkable reputation, this highly expert doctor was a favorite choice of many pet owners. So, Hayden was confident that she could blindly trust Dr. Sunbury with Jackson’s treatment.

Unsurprisingly, the vet’s initial diagnosis was no different from that of Hayden’s. The very fact that the doggy loved spending time outdoors urged him to believe that it was only a case of insect infestation, which has an easy fix. Unfortunately, no! On closer assessment, the doctor was terrified to discover something more horrible.

In-depth Checkup

A physician’s initial suppositions are based on a quick physical inspection. Yet, that’s only firsthand, before he conducts necessary tests to ascertain the real problems. Dr. Steve Sunbury, too, followed a similar protocol in Jackson’s case, only he wanted to do something else before taking the mutt to the lab for medical tests.

To conduct a proper diagnosis, the doctor asked Hayden’s permission to remove some of Jackson’s fur, especially those around the lumps on his body. Even though the dog-mom was stunned at Dr. Sunbury’s odd request, she chose to agree, hoping he’ll shortly discover the reason behind the pooch’s lumps and bleeding spots.

 Truth Unleashed 

Dr. Sunbury was not unfamiliar with shaving off fur from the animal skin. Yet, this was the first time that he had to do it in multiple areas. So, to be extra cautious, the vet used a pair of clippers and carefully worked his way through Jackson’s coat, removing the fluffs around each spot.

Only when the fur was removed, the doctor was horrified at the sight of the dog’s body. He was no longer staring at insect bites but holes on Jackson’s bare skin! Imagine how heartbreaking it was for Hayden to learn that her dear pet had so long been subjected to animal abuse.

 Too Great A Shock

It was saddening and terrifying at the same time for everyone in the lab to see the numerous punctures all over Jackson’s body. The poor mutt has silently suffered the pain so long, trying his best to keep the Howard’s happy around him. Who could ever be so cruel to a dog as amiable as Jackson?

Hayden was aware of her children’s fondness for their favorite pal; in no way would they ever inflict pain to him. So the offender has to be some stranger. She only hoped to find him soon, before he repeats the same with some other animals!

Dr. Sunbury had to make sure that the holes on Jackson’s body weren’t infected, so he wasted no time and began conducting several medical tests. Even though, as a vet, he is used to treating different strange diseases on animals, the doctor still felt sorry for the poor pup who never expressed the intense pain he was enduring.

On hastening the results, the vet could start on the much-needed treatment and prescribe medicines for the canine. Who knew that a visit to the vet would turn out to be a life-changing day for both Jackson and his fur-mom?!

 The Dangerous Revealing 

Throughout his entire career as an animal physician, Dr. Sunbury has never been more distressed while conveying the reports to the pet owners. Yet, Jackson’s case was exceptionally sensitive as he had never dealt with the same before. So with some apprehensions, the doctor informed Hayden about the tragic fate of her pooch.

The test results say that the lumps were not caused due to insect bites but for being shot by BB guns. The holes were actually made from pellets! What could even be more distressing for Hayden? She sat speechless, trying to fathom the news Dr. Sunbury just delivered to her.

 Getting To The Bottom Of The Cause

Hayden’s mind was flooded with thoughts and anxieties. She tried to resolve all possible times of the day when this awful act had taken place. Jackson enjoyed playing with her kids in the garden, but what if the same pellets hit the children instead of their pet? The loving mom now became more terrified at this thought.

Not even in her nightmares could she stand her kids being harmed! In all honesty, there can be no excuses for someone to commit this inhumane deed. Also, it was easy to deduce that the convict had done this numerous times before. This made Hayden even more furious!

 Facts About BB Pellets

Anyone would be astonished to think how Jackson never reacted to being hit by these pellets, even when they remained stuck inside his body for days. Yet, it should be noted that these BB shells can cause severe injuries that may lead to infections if not eliminated in time.

Nowadays, it is no big deal to keep such harmful toy weapons at home. Although these are playing devices, they can cause bruises that may even result in loss of life. In no way, the Howards would take this incident lightly – they aren’t letting the perpetrator get away with their wrongdoing!

 Available Nationwide

Despite the countless incidents where the BB pellets have harmed people, the item has been readily available at almost any store in the country. So anyone having the purchasing power can easily lay their hands on this toy weapon, even if they pose a threat to society.

For some, it’s no less than a hobby to play with the BB toys, and perhaps the same is true for those who chose to hurt Jackson. Yet, didn’t they realize their little game was no better than an act of animal cruelty? Dr. Sunbury, too agreed to Hayden that such stunts should never be endured.

English Mastiffs had no visible dots or patches on their fur, so Jackson’s spotty appearance was quite out of the ordinary. Yet, sadly, it was all because of being hit by the BB pellets that covered his cream fluffy coat with nasty spots.

Dr. Sunbury found out that the pellets have punctured a relatively large portion of his skin. A few were on the puppy’s knees, some on his tummy, and one right next to the eyelid. No wonder it could even lead to Jackson’s permanent blindness. To a pet parent’s utmost horror, the poor mutt was also shot at his ear!

 Jackson’s Secret Pain

Hayden wouldn’t have been able to dig out the shocking truths had she went by Jackson’s cheerful disposition. Good thing she waited no longer for the dark patches to vanish! Yet, the fact that her darling pup had been in silent pain for days greatly tormented the fur-mom.

Hayden’s guilt pangs were almost choking her! Seeing her plight, Dr. Sanbury too expressed his sympathy and discussed the essential treatment plan for Jackson. Executing surgery to remove the pellets seemed the most suitable option. Hayden only hoped that her mutt stays safe during the operation!

 Time to Operate

Although it wasn’t long that Hayden adopted the pup, she had somehow developed a strong bonding with it so much that thinking about his upcoming surgery made her anxious. She kept her fingers crossed and prayed that nothing goes wrong inside the operating room.

Slowly but carefully, Dr. Sunbury first worked on the bruises that weren’t too deep. Then he gradually started with the difficult portions, emptying every bit of debris from the holes on Jackson’s body. At the end of the surgery, the vet had removed a total of 21 pellets – yet, that wasn’t all!

 More Shocks Awaiting

Dr. Sunbury was awestruck at the number of pellets he discovered from Jackson’s torso, but he continued to check for more in disbelief. Leaving even a single of them inside might even endanger the pooch’s life, so he clearly can not take any risks. After a thorough inspection, the vet found seven more metal pellets!

On the other hand, Hayden was trying to recall instances when Jackson might’ve upset any of their neighbors or outsiders who frequented their locality. Perhaps, that’s the only reason they were trying to get back at him by inflicting pain on the poor dog.

 There Could Be More

Finally, Dr. Sunbury’s efforts paid off as Jackson’s operation was successful, which meant Hayden could now relax. Since there were numerous scars on his coat, the doctor realized that the mutt was shot no less than sixty times! The marks were formed when the pellets must have bounced off instead of piercing his skin.

Nothing could stop the vet from speculating that more shells were deeply lodged in Jackson’s torso than the ones he took out during the operation. Yet, it would take more time and effort to confirm his suspicion by conducting further diagnosis or tests before having all evidence against the perpetrators.

The Howards enjoyed a peaceful life and have never had to reach out to the authorities for help. They have never been in disputes with their family or acquaintances, so this was the first time Hayden contacted the local police. After all, animal abuse is a punishable offense, and none should let the wrongdoer escape!

As soon as the dog-mom came to know that Jackson was physically safe and sound, she hurried to the Seymour Police Department and narrated the entire case. She provided them with every detail she knew and remained optimistic, leaving the rest to their expertise.

 The Investigation Started

Although the police have previously dealt with several cases regarding lost or abused pets, nothing was as serious as Jackson’s case. Barely have they seen such a dreadful attack on a puppy! When the town residents were alerted of what happened to the Howards’ pet, they started worrying about their own.

The cops decided to initiate their investigation from Hayden’s yard, the most obvious place where the incident must have happened. Remarkably, they even found a trail that could help them locate the attacker. Would the authorities be able to nab the wrongdoers sooner than Hayden had expected?

 Some More Clues

The police checked around the Howards’ residence and discovered countless BB pellets littered around the ground. This clearly indicates that the shells have been shot from a considerable distance. Otherwise, the convict would’ve easily been spotted by someone or the other.

Also, they found an excellent lead – a tree nearby that was surrounded by the same pellet casings. So it became evident that the shots have been made from the same direction. Now, the cops only had to search for the probable sources at the other end of the tree from where the firing could be done easily.

 Following The Trail

By now, the entire town was aware of the authorities’ new investigation, so they had to trace the attacker before the shreds of evidence were removed. Hayden could hardly keep herself calm when the investigators started their search from the pellet-ridden tree.

Soon they were at the doorsteps of the first suspect’s house, which was nearly aligned with the tree. Yet, how would this owner react to the sudden appearance of the police? Barely did anyone know how this person was! If only he cooperated with the cops, it could be easier for them to administer the inquiry.

 No Conclusions Yet

While conducting the inspection, the police didn’t want to reveal anything beforehand and give false hopes or apprehensions to the people included in the case. Although Hayden found it hard to keep her curiosity in check, she hoped that justice is conformed!

With a search warrant in hand, the cops knocked on the door of the suspect’s house. Tim Woodward, the property owner, had been living in the same neighborhood for quite some time. He was bewildered to see the men at his doorsteps but spoke nothing in his defense. Now, this certainly raised suspicions in the police’ minds!