Hayden Howard was horrified when she discovered her English Mastiff, Jackson, covered in what appeared to be bug bites after playing in the backyard. However, a closer look revealed a far more sinister reality—Jackson had been shot multiple times with a BB gun. “I was completely shocked, I didn’t know what to think,” Hayden told WXIN.

Jackson was rushed to the vet, where it was revealed that he had nearly 70 gunshot wounds. The vet had to shave Jackson’s fur to remove the pellets, extracting 27 bullets, while 20 had to be left inside. “There was one stuck under his eyelid, one in his ear, one in his knee, they were everywhere,” Hayden said.

Police traced the shooting to a neighbor, where they found a BB gun, pellets, and methamphetamine. Assistant Chief Craig Hayes of the Seymour Police Department said, “I have never seen an animal shot that many times… it’s sad to see.”

Despite the trauma, Jackson is recovering well. Hayden expressed her hope that the offender faces serious legal consequences, emphasizing that BB guns are not toys and should be treated as real weapons. “I sincerely hope Jackson recovers quickly and is able to play happily in his backyard once more.”