Jamie Macgregor recounted the incident from his bed at the Alfred Hospital. Picture: Andrew Brownbill Source: Herald Sun
THE owner of a dog shot five times by heartless thugs says it is not the first time his animals have been targeted.
Jamie Macgregor said another dog was poisoned and a camel had been shot during other attacks at his Keysborough property in recent years.
In the latest attack on April 5, Mr Macgregor's beloved seven-year-old boxer Maxie was shot in the head while running around the yard.
A distraught Mr Macgregor made a plea from his bed at the Alfred Hospital today - where he is recovering from an unrelated brain haemorrhage - for the perpetrators to turn themselves in.
Mr Macgregor, 69, told of how he found Maxie in a pool of blood after hearing a loud bang in his yard.
He said he then heard Maxie yelping in pain.
"I heard a bark from the dogs, then I heard this crack," he said.
"I could hear cars hooning up and down the street, Maxie was barking and then I heard a shot.
"Maxie started yelping and I went outside, he was covered in blood and I hugged him."
Mr Macgregor nursed his dog with bandages until he could get him to a vet.
The bullet had travelled cleanly through the dog’s head and had exited below his jaw.
The boxer breeder said it was not the first time animals had been attacked at his Kirkham Rd West property.
In another cruel incident, one of his dogs was strung up on his fence and baited with rat poison. A camel he owned was also shot.
He said he didn't know why anyone would hurt a defenceless animal.
Police said they were trying to find Maxie's attempted killers, but had no reports of previous attacks on his pets.
Mr Macgregor said he considered Maxie and his other dogs part of his family.
"I spend my pension feeding him and the rest of my dogs," he said.
Mr Macgregor said he couldn't wait to recover and return home to see his dog.
"I’ll be covered in slobber," he laughed.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
