An Arkansas woman was left heartbroken and terrified after her puppy, a 10-month-old named Crash Bandicoot, was brutally shot three times. The shooting occurred just moments after he ventured off into the woods behind her house -- private property where she and neighbors always let Crash wander, a place that was safe and familiar.
But apparently, neighbors were also familiar with a less welcome presence in those woods -- illegal, off-season deer hunters who had been trespassing there lately. Crash's owner believes that the pup was either shot accidentally after startling these unwelcome hunters or that he was their intentional their prey. Sign the petition and demand that whoever killed sweet Crash is found and held accountable!
McKenna Ricardi was in her backyard, with Crash and her 2-year-old child when the whole ordeal unfolded. Crash heard some rustling in the woods -- perhaps a bird or a squirrel, always a fun chase for a puppy -- and took off after it. This was nothing out of the ordinary, since McKenna had the sort of relationship with her neighbors that allowed Crash to venture between their properties. She wasn't concerned at all until she heard the gunshots.
Minutes later, Crash was back, with three bullet holes in his tiny body. He ended up dying shortly after.
There is absolutely no excuse for what happened to Crash. He was on private property, meaning hunters or anyone with a gun shouldn't have been anywhere near him. Even then, this occurred well before the beginning of deer hunting season in Arkansas -- if someone was confused about where they were allowed to hunt, they shouldn't have been out hunting at all. McKenna also noted that Crash was wearing a collar and was bright white -- he looked nothing like a hunter's prey.
Whoever did this was either careless, reckless, downright cruel, or a horrible combination. They shot a family dog just yards away from a tiny child! There are obvious reasons why hunting has geographical boundaries and is limited to certain months when everyone can be prepared and stay safe. Whoever did this obviously didn't care, and was willing to take an innocent life -- and it could have been more.
Sign the petition to demand justice! Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Pulaski Sheriff's Department must do everything in their power to find this person, and charge them with animal cruelty and endangering a child at the very least!
