A CORRYONG man says a hole has been left in his life after his gentle labrador cross kelpie was shot and killed by a man with a high-powered rifle on a regular morning walk this week.
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Corryong police are investigating and have appealed for witnesses as their search for the shooter continues.
It was 8.30am on New Year’s Eve and the 62-year-old plumber, who lives on a property at Thowgla Valley, was taking nine-month-old Jeda on her usual walk.
“As soon as I said that word ‘walk’ she knew exactly what I meant. She was happy, as happy as happy,” said the plumber, who wanted to remain anonymous.
He let her off the lead and she trotted off around a bend on Gray’s Track about 10 metres away.
He heard a bang and he ran around the bend where he found Jeda, who had a collar with her registration and name tag, lying on the track.
“It was one shot dead through the heart,” he said.
He said a man in camouflage clothing stood just metres away wearing a floppy green hat and a high-powered rifle, with a scope, in his arms.
“I’ve seen her on the ground. It was terrible and the bastard’s running away,” he said.
He said the shooter got into a silver SUV.
“I’m 62 years old but I chased the car as much as I could.”
He bought Jeda six months ago from a property near Corryong and the black and tan dog with a “beautiful temperament” was “training up” nicely.
He said, voice breaking, that her shooting had left a big hole in he and his partner’s lives.
“She was beautiful, very placid, happy to see you and wouldn’t hurt a fly,” he said.
Corryong police officer Sen-Constable Simon O’Toole said a neighbour living in one of the houses dotted along Gray’s Track had earlier seen the shooter.
Sen-Constable O’Toole said the man had asked the neighbour where her property was and whether he could get on there to shoot deer.
He described the incident as weird.
“I don’t understand his actions for shooting this dog,” he said.
Sen-Constable O’Toole said the man could face charges of reckless conduct endangering persons and firearm offences.
The man is thought to be in his 40s with scraggly hair and 184 centimetres tall.
Anyone who saw the man in the area, the car or has any information can phone Corryong police on (02) 6076 1666.