By Hayden Savage
Published: Jun. 21, 2023 at 6:37 PM EDT
INDEPENDENCE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - An Independence County family is demanding answers after a crucial member of their family was shot and killed.
Cody and Savannah Hooker live on Misty Lane in rural Independence County with their children. Until this past weekend, they said their life on the road has been relatively calm.
"She heard a gunshot, so she ran outside, and I had the kids," said Cody. "She came back in screaming that the dog had been shot."
The Hookers say a vehicle drove by their home and shot their service dog, Legion, in their yard, killing him.
The Hookers said Legion served as both a family friend and a service dog to their two-year-old daughter Oaklynn.
Oaklynn has autism and is non-verbal.
Soon after the Hookers adopted Legion, the two's bond grew quickly.
"It would help her be calm. It was her comfort. Basically, that was her person, and that's what she lost," the Hookers said.
Now they and investigators want to know who would do this to an animal, especially to a service dog.
"Even if we made a person mad enough to want to kill our dog, why would you do it to a dog? Why would you take it out on an innocent dog?" they asked.
Though Oaklynn is without her service animal, her parents say they're glad no one else was hurt.
"Any kid could've been outside. Any other person could've been outside and been hurt or harmed," they said. "Who would drive by and shoot a dog like that?"
The Independence County Sheriff's Office is offering a $500 reward for anyone with information on the killing.
"We have a few leads in," they said. "We think we know who it is or could be, but we're not 100% sure."
If you have any information on who was involved in the death of the service dog, you're asked to call the sheriff's office at 870-793-8838.
Family mourns service dog shot and killed
An Independence County family is demanding answers after a crucial member of their family was shot and killed.
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