Dog Shot in Head, Left in Woods to Die for Days, Has Been Euthanized

Falkor at Hillside SPCA
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Last Saturday,  April 29th,  people riding four-wheelers in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania made a disturbing but also sickening discovery unbeknownst to anyone for days.   

A full grown stray Akita was found way back in northern Pennsylvania coal land.   His body covered in mud leaving him filthy,  his head titlting,  drooling from his mouth, discharge in his ears,  and a constant regurgitation of water with no interest in food.   The drooling was constant and had to be constantly wiped from his face.   

Falkor walking out of the woods facebook

To those who helped him, it was a heartbreaking scene.   Despite having two collars and a leash on him, no owner has been found.    He was named “Falkor.”

Update : Falkor’s true identity has been revealed.   His name was Elmo and the investigation is underway to determine who the person was who shot him.

Tamaqua Animal Rescue was the first to help this sickly guy but his health was deteriorating quickly.   He was taken to Hillside SPCA.    Because of his lack of energy, there were assumptions he may have lyme disease or possibly kidney disease.

bullet fragments in Falkor’s skull
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The truth was revealed and it was shocking.   Elmo/Falkor had been shot in the head!  Someone shot this trusting dog in the head leaving him to suffer and die in the deep woods of coal land.    It’s quite clear he wasn’t expected to be found.   But he was.

Finding him did not save his life but it allowed Elmo/Falkor to know that people did love and care about him.   On Tuesday, May 2nd, the veterinarian gently euthanized Elmo/ Falkor due to the serious deteriorating nature of his neurological issues from the bullet.

In Pennsylvania, it is LEGAL to kill your own dog but only humanely.    We can argue how inhumane this was but the person who shot Falkor knew he didn’t die and walked away from him allowing him to suffer for days or longer.   No one knows the full truth.

(Dogs/puppies in puppy mills are not allowed to be killed by gunshot after the new Dog Law was enacted in 2008.  The law doesn’t pertain to pets.   Ridiculous which is why Pennsylvania needs new anti-cruelty laws with harsher punishments.)

For all those who helped with Elmo/Falkor,  they said despite his traumatic injuries this brave dog was the sweetest-natured dog.   They loved him.  All loved him.  I look at his photos and my heart breaks for him.   I cried when I read he wasn’t able to be saved.   It’s unfair and beyond cruel what people are capable of doing to innocent, beautiful creatures.    There are no words when it makes no sense!

Elmo/Falkor did NOT deserve to be shot and die as a result!

A reward for $500 is being offered by a man in Schuylkill County for anyone with information.  You can contact Tamaqua Animal Rescue or Hillside SPCA at 570-622-7769 if you have any information about this case.

Another person has come forward to offer more money for this reward.

People want justice and justice must be served on a coward who would willingly and intentionally abuse his/her dog wanting him to die!!

RIP Elmo/Falkor

Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and is an unabashed  animal advocate .   Her love for animals is what drives her to promote awareness of the many issues facing animals.   She hosts the show,  ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.”    If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com.   Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows, articles,  and podcasts you may have missed!