Hayden Howard’s English Mastiff, Jackson, was playing in the backyard when she noticed he looked unusually “covered in insect bites.” Upon closer inspection, Hayden was horrified to discover that Jackson had been shot multiple times with a BB gun.

“I was completely shocked, I didn’t know what to think,” Hayden told WXIN.

At the vet, the extent of Jackson’s injuries became clear. He had been hit over 70 times, with 27 bullets removed and 20 left embedded in his body. “There was one stuck under his eyelid, one in his ear, one in his knee—they were everywhere,” Hayden explained.

The police investigation led them to a neighbor’s home, where they found a BB gun, pellets, and methamphetamine. Seymour Police Assistant Chief Craig Hayes remarked, “I have never seen an animal shot that many times. It’s a very bad case and it’s sad to see.”

Despite the trauma, Jackson is recovering well. Hayden hopes for justice, saying, “The person responsible should never be allowed near an animal again.”

BB and pellet guns, often labeled as toys, can cause serious harm. Crimes involving such weapons must be treated as real gun offenses to ensure perpetrators face appropriate consequences.

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