CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Minn. -- The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is investigating after two pure bred German Shepards were shot and killed last weekend.
The dog owners say they were doing chores on their farm in Clinton Township, near Iron, on Saturday afternoon when the dogs ran off into the woods. "They would have ran maybe 30 seconds before they were shot," said dog owner Shannon Hautala.
Hautala said she heard gunshots shortly after the dogs ran. She found the dogs dead Sunday morning near a hunting stand on the adjoining property. Hautala said the men hunting on the land admitted to her they had shot the dogs. However, authorities say no one has admitted to shooting the dogs to them.
Hautala says the dogs, Makita and Devaki, were going to be therapy dogs.
Authorities continue to investigate the case and say whoever is responsible could face charges of damage to private property.
Under Minnesota law, conservation officers are the only people who may shoot a dog if they are witnessed wounding or killing big game at any time of year.
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