As Charming As A Dog

We understand that some of you might not be dog people, and that's okay. We can argue about who's better between cats and dogs, but we can all agree that dogs have an irresistible charm that very few things can beat.

Moreover, these creatures are pretty intelligent, and they help around more than we can ever talk about. That's why Hayden Howard decided to get a trusty canine for a pet. An 'English Mastiff' was her preferred choice, and the lucky dog was aptly named Jackson. The brown-eyed hound was pure perfection for Hayden, and she loved the animal to bits.

Strange Things

Jackson was welcomed into his new home with open arms. The Howards were ecstatic about their latest addition to the family, and they couldn't wait to shower the animal with all their love and affection.

The first few weeks were uneventful, but soon after, Hayden noticed something odd with the puppy. Some changes were going on, and she wasn't sure what to make of them. Then, out of nowhere, strange markings started forming on the young one. Hayden was confused since she couldn't make out what was causing this sudden change.

Major Milestones

You can already tell that Hayden was big on family and the new pet was not a coincidence. The lady wanted to give her children a chance at having a memorable childhood. One of these milestones included having their first pet.

Having a pet is a huge responsibility, but Hayden was confident in her children's skills and right about them. Jackson was relatively little when he was first introduced to the family, and the kids immediately took to him. Interestingly, they even saw the little dog as their baby, proving they were ready for the task. Everyone was excited to witness the transformation from pup to adult.

All He Can Eat

Most people might not be aware of this, but 'English Mastiffs' have an insane appetite. In no time, Little Jackson was gaining weight and growing bigger by the day. Moreover, the animal had taken well to the family, and he was getting along with the kids and adults without any qualms.

All this was possible because the dog had a warm personality that made people become attracted to him. Even the neighbors were not spared as they were drawn to the dog whenever his family took him for walks. Before long, the Howards were accustomed to their cute pet getting head pats and sweet gestures from strangers on the street.

Not A Wonderful Feeling

Until April 15, 2017, Jackson was growing normally, and the Howards were enjoying the good vibes the canine was bringing. Then, sadly, things took a sudden turn, and the family was thrown a curveball.

Everyone was enjoying some snuggle time when the dog came in between Hayden and the kids. Hayden was kind enough to start stroking the cheeky animal on his belly, but little did she know what horror awaited. Instead of a soft underbelly, there was a weird feeling that Hayden wasn't accustomed to. What could it be?

Odds And Ends

Hayden wasn't the only one to notice changes in their little friend. Even the kids who loved stroking and petting the dog noticed something was amiss. Instead of the silky hair that made their hands feel nice, they were met with a different texture.

Jackson's fur was riddled with spots, and his body was adorned with bumps all over. This was alarming, to say the least, and it happened so abruptly no one in the family had any time to figure out what was happening. The Howards needed to get to the bottom of this mystery as soon as possible.

Sensitive Much

Unlike other days, Hayden also noticed that Jackson was more hesitant about being stroked around his midriff. Unfortunately, she couldn’t pick up on the discomfort immediately since the dog was putting up a brave front and maintained his adorable playfulness.

Another reason Hayden wasn't too pressed about Jackson's hesitance is that dogs tend to have moments when they don't necessarily want physical attention. They have sensitive body parts, after all, and too much stimulation can be overwhelming. Unbeknownst to Hayden, this wasn't her regular rodeo, and her world was about to turn upside down.

Under The Weather

There are many reasons a dog can have such an adverse condition. Many factors come into play, such as allergies and the weather. A shift in climate is more than enough to cause some unwarranted changes on your pet, and it's not even funny.

In this case, sunny days were around the corner, and that weather usually makes furry canines uncomfortable. Plus, Jackson had just come home from a fun-filled afternoon with the kids, and there was a possibility the animal had gotten caught up in some unfriendly plants, or he was reacting to something. Hayden was racking her brain, trying to figure out what was happening.

Something’s Wrong

After a few days of monitoring Jackson, Hayden started taking a hiatus since the dog seemed to ease off on the anxiety and discomfort. Jackson was back to his old ways running around and playing with the kids.

At this point, no one could believe that just a few days ago, the dog was having a rough time. The odd markings were still visible, but Jackson was acting normal, and as far as the family was concerned, the disease was just a fluke, and Jackson, the happy, fun dog, was back in town.

The Usual Suspects

The possibility that Jackson had come into contact with some unfriendly critters while he was out and about wasn't little. Venturing outdoors can be pretty unpredictable and harsh to pets if you're not careful. To make matters worse, Jackson had short fur making his case more plausible.

Our money would be on some wasp or bee stings since it was springtime when the mysterious bumps made their appearance. Even then, we think otherwise because there were no signs of intense pain and discomfort. Regardless, Hayden didn't drop her guard down, and she was hoping her dog wasn't putting on a brave front.

Not Letting Go

Despite easing a little, Hayden couldn't help but worry about the markings on her poor dog that just didn't seem to fade. The lady ensured that the animal got regular baths on a daily basis, but that wasn't enough to get rid of the strange marks.

To top it all off, the marks seemed to increase every time Hayden inspected Jackson. Hayden was confused on what course of action to take since it was her first time having a dog, so she didn't want to go to the vet on a false alarm. So to avoid any embarrassment, the lady opted to wait it out.

The Scarlet Discharge

 

Confusingly, despite the weird developments on his body, Jackson maintained his hyperactive nature. If anyone saw him in action, no one could have imagined that the dog had some festering issues on his body that needed attention.

Hayden was consistently cleaning the family pet, making him one of the cleanest animals in town. So that’s why and how the lady noticed something sinister that raised the markings from an unknown nuisance to a potential problem. The spots had started to bleed! They weren't gushing and dripping like a horror movie, but the discharge was noticeable even when you're not looking.

Plan B

Hayden had enough with this new development, and she knew this wasn't something she could just ignore. Instead, she had to take Jackson to the vet, and hopefully, the doctor would have an idea about what was going on.

All these happenings were confusing for Hayden because she had never encountered a dog with such a deformity. Random holes and spots on a dog's body were foreign to her, and she had no idea how to handle it.  The lady missed Jackson's fluffy coat of fur, and so she decided to take the animal for a thorough examination on Monday morning.

The Expert's Opinion

Luckily, Hayden already had a preferred vet on call. There were many doctors in the area but having one you can count on is crucial in such scenarios. Dr. Steve Sunbury was quite popular since he had a fantastic track record when it came to animal treatment, so if there was anyone who could solve this, it was him.

Expectedly, the doctor had the same assumptions as Hayden at first, suggesting that the poor creature had an insect infestation. The bumps were quite familiar with such a diagnosis, but the doctor was horrified upon closer inspection.

Further Examination

A quick physical exam is usually enough to determine what's bothering an animal since the signs say a lot. This is generally followed up by tests just to be sure, and that's why Jackson was able to be diagnosed correctly.

After noticing that there might be something more profound than an insect infestation, Dr. Sunbury was given the go-ahead by Hayden to shave off some of Jackson's hair. Hayden was ready to do anything to ensure her friend was okay. On the other hand, the doctor promised only to clip the bumpy areas.

Mysterious Discovery

The vet carefully and gradually cut off the hair from the troublesome regions since this wasn't his first time doing this. By the time Dr. Sunbury was done, Jackson looked like an alien creature due to the extensive patchwork on his body.

When the vet was done, both Hayden and Dr. Sunbury were shocked at what they found. The dog didn't have insects inside him; instead, he had gaping holes all over the sores. It was a shocking moment as this signified a case of animal abuse, something Hayden would never do and had never noticed.

Shocking Revelation

She was doing her best to hold off her tears since she couldn't imagine who would be this evil enough to harm their loving animal. The doctor was lost for words since he couldn't fathom the woman being able to bear such atrocities in front of her.

What perplexed Hayden was that Jackson had always been around her family, so there was no way a random stranger would regularly do this and get away with it. That's when she had the saddening thought that her kids were responsible. Even so, Hayden quickly shut those thoughts down since her children loved Jackson more than anyone.

More Tests

The vet decided to continue his investigation and treatments to ensure that the animal's holes were not infected. That's why he chose to begin with a blood exam like he usually would, hoping to find some answers and help the poor creature.

Dr. Sunbury felt sorry for the puppy since it was clearly putting on a brave front by staying active and positive. The sheer amount of pain the dog must have been going through was not easy to imagine. On the other hand, Jackson had no way to talk and point out who was responsible for his suffering.

Identifying The Culprit

As a vet, you are always expecting to find something sinister now and then that you cannot explain or understand. Nevertheless, nothing ever prepares you for something like Jackson's case. Once the results came out, the doctor was floored and had to find a way of letting Hayden know what was wrong.

Dr. Sunburn did almost every test imaginable, and he found out that the holes were indeed not caused by any cheeky insects. Instead, they were the result of BB pellets, and at this point, Hayden lost her cool. Her sad face was replaced with a flush of anger since someone had been messing with Jackson.

Make It Make Sense

Hayden tried her best to rack her brain and determine ‘what’ went wrong and ‘when’ this incident happened. Unfortunately, Jackson left the house only to roam around the compound with the kids, so he was relatively safe. Sadly, the more Hayden thought about it, the more it became apparent that her kids might have been harmed in this atrocity too.

Look at it this way, what if the shooter had aimed for Jackson only to miss and hit her daughter in a dangerous area like her eye? Hayden was upset that someone would do this to such a helpless creature.

BB Pellets

Many people always assume that BB Pellets are harmless toys, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. If not handled correctly, these items have the potential of causing grave injury and even maiming.

In extreme cases, people hit with these pellets have broken wounds, and others have even lost their lives. That's why Hayden was so upset, and she knew she needed to have a discussion with her family to get to the bottom of this. One wrong move and Jackson wouldn't be part of the earthly population.

It's Not Banned

Surprisingly, despite being capable of doing so much damage, BB items are still available to the public all over the country. Some people are adamant that these are just toys, so it's somewhat a grey area for the authorities when they want to enforce some rules.

It seems the perpetrator of Jackson's suffering probably thought that the animal wouldn't get harmed by their actions since they did it repeatedly. No matter the case, the vet and Hayden were in unison that this mistreatment had to be stopped before things got out of hand.

Damage Report

Typically, 'English Mastiffs' are known to have spots here and there, especially when they are a mixed breed. In Jackson's case, though, he didn’t, but was rather a victim of mistreatment. The BB Pellets had messed up his anatomy, and the shaving was the only way the vet could pinpoint the locations.

All the dog's body had been attacked; no area was spared. From his legs to his head, everywhere had been hit. Even his eye had escaped narrowly since one pellet barely missed his eyelid meaning Hayden would’ve had a bigger mess in her hands.

It's Hard To Tell

Hayden was glad that she had made the trip to the vet, but she couldn't help but feel guilty that she hadn't noticed her friend's suffering all this time. The pet owner genuinely wanted to make it up to the dog since he had been through so much.

Dr. Sunbury understood the gravity of the situation, and after careful assessment, he realized he had no choice but to go for surgery. That's the only way they'd be able to clear the dog of all pellets comfortably and painlessly. Nevertheless, the doctor would be doing this for the first time.

The D-day

The surgery was scheduled and ready to go, and if you had asked Hayden prior to this situation if she would have ever imagined her pooch would need surgery at such a young age, she'd probably say no. In addition, this was a non-medical situation making it even more unlikely.

Dr. Sunbury was a good sport, and he went in slowly by slowly, picking out the easy pellets first before delving into the deeper ones. That way, he'd ensure maximum efficiency without risking the puppy's life. By the time the procedure was done, they had removed a whopping 21 pellets from the animal's body!

That's Not All

At this point, Dr. Sunbury was just as livid as Hayden, and he was determined to catch the person responsible. Aside from the regular pellets, they also got seven metal pellets adding to the severity of the situation. The one involved really had something out for the dog.

In the meantime, Hayden was playing all kinds of scenarios in her head, trying to figure out how this could have happened. Had someone been angered by Jackson and decided to take matters into their own hands? Even so, why attack the puppy repeatedly? Once was enough to drive the point home! Still, why hurt the animal?

More Injuries

As much as the surgery was a success, the discoveries that the doctor made were disheartening. Besides the pellets, Dr. Sunbury found extra bruises on Jackson's skin, meaning that he had been subjected to a barrage of at least 50 shots.

Most of those shots had bounced off, but the others were the ones that they had extracted.  Due to this development, the doctor suspected more pellets were lodged deeper in the puppy's body, but they had to be patient for them to show up—more tests needed to be done since the evidence was clear as daylight.

Involving The Boys In Blue

Hayden's family rarely called the police for help, if ever, since they never had to. The family kept a low profile and rarely had any domestic squabbles. That being said, there's a time someone must call in reinforcements, and Hayden knew this was it.

As soon as, Jackson was safe and secure; Hayden called in the abuse her pet had suffered. She was clutching at straws here, but the lady was desperately hoping the police department would help get things under control by catching the culprit responsible. Jackson had suffered enough, and justice needed to be served.

A New Level Of Horror

Receiving animal abuse calls and reports was nothing new to the police, but Hayden's story was for the books. This was too extensive to be passed off as a simple situation, and immediately, the whole town was made aware of what had happened to Jackson.

Without wasting any time, the police made a point to investigate the first possible scene of the crime, the Howards’ backyard. In two shakes, the authorities had identified an odd trail that might lead them to the perpetrator. It seemed like the case would be closed sooner than expected.

Examining The Evidence

The police combed the yard thoroughly, and they identified a lot of BB pellets lying around the ground. From the angles of trajectory and impact, it was clear that the person had attacked from afar, and these facts helped the police identify the first piece of evidence.

There was a tree near the property, and ammunition casings were strewn all around it. This was good news because the kids were totally exempt from the atrocious act, but now the big question was who was responsible for such a vile act in broad daylight?

Follow The Cheese

The detectives figured that they had to pursue their leads immediately lest they lose the trail. They already had a trajectory, so all they had to do was follow it before someone cleared the evidence or nature did its thing and cleared it for them.

After following the trail for a while, the hunt landed the officers at a house that was in line with the crime scene. It wasn't a straightforward job since no one knew what to expect when they made their way to the suspect's door. The tension was high, but the cops had to do their job.

The More The Merrier

Before making their way to the ominous abode, the police knew they needed concrete evidence to make their case. Patience was paramount for the success of the mission, but Hayden was rearing to go.

Before long, the officers managed to acquire a search warrant, and they made their way to Tim Woodward's house. Tim had been a resident of the area for a bit, and he was expectedly perplexed when he saw the boys in blue right at his doorstep. To make matters worse, they had a search warrant meaning it was a dire situation.

Face To Face

The authorities had to ensure Hayden was on point before making their way to the suspect’s house since there's a fine line between a suspect and a criminal. Of course officers understood the line, but they knew Hayden's emotions were raw, and she might lash out at the person, which might jeopardize the investigation.

Sooner than later, the officers found Mr. Woodward's BB cannon together with a pack of pellets. Surprisingly, even with the evidence right before them, Woodward maintained his silence, making the officers even more suspicious. Yet, even with all this evidence, the man's record was way more interesting than what they were looking at.

Awestruck

Jackson was a local celebrity at that point due to his loving nature.  Everyone in the neighborhood was in love with the animal, so this situation shocked Hayden.

Hayden couldn't understand why Tim Woodward was hellbent on ensuring their puppy suffered. On the other hand, they had never interacted before, so the man had no reason to hold a grudge against her. This was a tad too confusing for Hayden, and she decided to follow the officer's advice and wait for the evidence to prove that he was the one responsible.

Justice For Jackson

The whole neighborhood knew about Jackson and the kids, which made Hayden wonder if Woodward was a new neighbor who didn't know about them. Anyone who knew about Jackson and the family would probably have avoided attacking the dog since he was a well-known figure.

So far, the evidence was pointing at this odd fellow, but it wasn't enough to nail him. The investigators needed a definitive clue that would put him in the attacker’s shoes without any doubt. After all, they also wanted justice for Jackson.

Looking Bleak

Sadly, all the evidence pointing at Woodward was circumstantial at best, and there was no forensic evidence placing him at the scene of the crime. Jackson's family was gutted since things looked like they were about to take a sinister turn, and the one responsible would go scot-free.

This was totally unfair, but the law is the law, and there's nothing you can do about it. The man was probably the perpetrator, but he could not be charged unless the officers found solid evidence. So what would these guys do since Jackson deserved justice?

Woodward Not Out Of The Woods

Before long, Tim was cleared of the BB pellet incident, but things were not going smoothly for him. During the search, the officers were able to find a massive amount of prohibited substances, and they didn't waste any time placing him behind bars.

Jackson's justice might be delayed, but the community would be glad to have one less criminal in their vicinity. Woodward was hustled off into confinement, and his new charges started being drafted. Nevertheless, Hayden hoped that the officers would be able to find whoever was responsible for Jackson's suffering.

Handsome Prize

Hayden hadn't given up on finding justice for her dog, and she decided to take matters into her own hands. It was about time the whole family moved on from this sad affair, but the investigation wasn't going as planned. That's why the lady decided to offer some prize money to incentivize anyone who had seen anything to come forward.

The cops didn't have any new leads when Hayden was putting out a $500 reward for information. On the other hand, the officers were convinced that no one would come forward with information.

Time For A Change

After this incident, the Howard's knew they had to do a better job of taking care of their dog. Jackson had been harmed once, so there was no way they were putting him in harm's way again.

As the family does their best to ensure their pup makes a full recovery, Hayden can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness that the perpetrator is still at large. Deep down, she hopes that the person responsible would be caught someday and they wouldn't have to deal with such a situation ever again. No animal deserves what Jackson went through, so here’s hoping the lawmakers do their part soon!