Shiloh was a part of the family from Second Chance Mushers Rescue/Sanctuary(SCMR).  Shiloh came into the loving care of Sarah at SCMR when her family didn’t have the time for her. They wanted a better life for her and she found that with Sarah. She was living her best life running around a huge backyard, swimming in the dog pools, boating, dog sledding, and she was a Second Chance Mushers Rescue ambassador dog because she loved people so much she represented the program beautifully.  She also helped new dogs coming into the rescue learn how to be a balanced dog. Shiloh helped them work through the trauma they had endured and to learn that the place they came to is loving, caring, fun and that they now get to live their best life.  Shiloh was also the leader of the team.

On August 6th when Sarah arrived home from work, she let Shiloh, U-Turn, Morello and Arlo out in the front yard. They were playing and enjoying the cooler weather that they finally had. While she was unloading donation packages into her  home, Shiloh took off from the property and proceeded to follow their normal dog sledding route down the road.  Sarah  didn’t realize she left her  property until it was too late. Shiloh is not one to take off on her, she’s one of Sarah’s  best trained lead dogs on her sled team and this is an activity she and Sarah do in the front yard frequently .

 Unfortunately,  the nightmare of anyone who owns a dog with a high prey drive became real. Shiloh found the neighbors' chickens/ducks along this path.  It was wrong and Sarah would have done what she needed to make it right for the livestock owner.  Sarah had been alerted by the neighbor's car (livestock owner neighbor)  in her driveway and realized then that Shiloh had taken off  down the road. Sarah immediately kennelled the dogs and drove to their home as she recognized their car. When she arrived at their home,  the man that shot her was coming up the road in his side by side.  He claimed Shiloh had been hit by a car near a home down the road and she passed away from those injuries. Sarah took her home and a friend of hers who was also a previous neighbor of his,  had once told her that he had threatened to shoot any of her dogs if they stepped foot on his property.  When she looked, she found a bullet hole to the back of Shiloh’s  head. Sarah went back to discuss what exactly happened to Shiloh and he changed his story stating she was hit by a car and suffered a broken back. He had to end her suffering by shooting her. Sarah drove Shiloh’s body to the local police station to review what happened to ensure that what her neighbor did was within the law and it wasn’t. He was arrested and shortly posted bond. A necropsy was done that night and there were no signs of trauma from being hit by a car.  Just the single bullet wound that left a hole in her collar and entered the base of her head.  Necropsy report read as follows:  

“Patient assessed grossly upon arrival. Photos taken of body as is, as well as wounds prior to shaving hair surrounding wounds. Radiographs of skull and cervical spine performed. Radiographs do not reveal any bullet, shrapnel, or fragments, making this consistent with a perforating projectile wound. Radiographs reveal a fractured/shattered skull base consisting of fracture(s) to the caudal temporal bone, basioccipital bone, occipital condyles and wing of the atlas of C1. Wounds were clipped, photographed and measured (see physical examination for exact dimensions). Suspect entry wound L sided (Abrasion ring/powder tattooing causing particulate/soot and hemorrhage associated with tattooing; tissue consistent likely with close to intermediate range gunshot wound) and exit wound R sided (protruding tissue, larger diameter, no abrasion ring or stippling or soot noted). Based on radiographic findings and location of entry and exit wound suspect bullet traversed base of skull, crossing brainstem and causing death (likely instantaneously).

O reported later that person who shot Pt reports that "Pt was hit by a car, fractured her back, and had to be shot to be put out of her misery" No other evidence externally consistent with vehicular trauma (no abrasions, road rash, wounds, hemorrhage, long bony fractures). No gross evidence of spinal fracture.” Per necropsy report 

 There are laws about protecting your livestock but Shiloh was no longer on his property when this happened.  He caught up with her further down that road. Knowing her friendly personality it’s likely Shiloh walked over to him with her tail wagging. At some point she was shot in the back of the head. This was an execution of a rescue animal. 

It is now up to the prosecutor James Rossiter of Antrim County Mi to decide if they are going to follow through with the charges. We need your support to make sure we are alerting the local prosecutor to make sure these types of behaviors will never be allowed and will be dealt with swiftly and firmly. The “human” that did this to Shiloh needs to be held accountable to the law. They need to be charged for animal cruelty. 

 Join us in making sure the appropriate charges are brought against this individual, that this doesn’t happen to another animal and to get Justice for Shiloh!