Chester Police Offer Reward In Shooting Death Of Dog

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Chester Township police are hoping a reward fund will help them find the gunman who shot and killed a resident's pet Saint Bernard for no apparent reason.

It was such a senseless crime. The dog, Clara, was chained in her backyard last week, enjoying a little outdoor time after dinner, when her owner heard gunfire and looked outside to find Clara lying dead in the alley outside her fence.

Detective James Mullen says he could find no reason for the shooting; neighbors said the dog was well-behaved and friendly.

"The dog apparently was friendly enough that somebody could have walked into the back yard, unchain the dog, walked the dog out the gate and then shoot it in the alley."

Mullen says outraged dog lovers are sending money to a fund called Justice for Clara that will be used to reward anyone with information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of the shooter. He says police have some promising leads.