Family mourning over pet that was shot

IDAHO FALLS -- VO: A local family is mourning after losing their pet to a pellet gun wound. The Bitrick family watched their pet "Halo" go from emergency surgery, to being buried in a matter of hours Tuesday.

SOT: "Why would you hurt somebodies pet? Why would you hurt a member of somebodies family,” Owner Monica Bitrick says. "She was adorable, she was fun, she was non-threatening.

VO: Bitrick says the pet could be considered her middle child. The family adopted Halo at 6 weeks old.

“She was with us for nine and a half years,” Bitrick says. “She loved getting up in the mornings and she loved just getting everybody up and running around and just licking and kissing."

VO: Bitrick says the night Halo was injured began as any other night. She was let outside around 8 p.m. and and is usually back after 10 minutes.

SOT: "If there’s 15 minutes passed then you need to usually go out and look for her, and 20 minutes is pretty alarming," Bitrick says.

VO: When Halo didn't return the Bitrick family started searching for their pet. They drove around the neighborhood, and went door-to-door.

STAND UP: After 45 minutes of looking the family found Halo on their back porch.

SOT: “At that time we thought that she may have been hit and somebody had placed her on our patio,” Bitrick says. “It was a pellet gun, in the end, but being a cockapoo she is 25 pounds very small very petite."

VO: Bitrick has contacted law enforcement. Idaho Falls Animal Control officers visited her home and explained to highly unlikely anything would come of their efforts. They assured the family they would do their best.

SOT: “Having the spiritual basis that our family has, I would want them to know that I have prayed for them and I do forgive them, but I want to know why?" Bitrick says

VO: A reward of several thousand dollars is being offered if the suspect is turned in. In Idaho Falls, I’m Natalia Hepworth, EastIdahoNews.com.