Chester County family mourning 2 dogs found shot to death

DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Chester County family is mourning the loss of two beloved pets who were found shot to death near their home.

The bodies of the dogs, Buddha and Oliver, were found by a worker near the intersection of Sawmill and Old Shadyside roads in Downingtown.

Both had been shot once, their collars were missing, and their bodies dumped in a creek.

"In my mind, they were executed. They were shot point-blank in the forehead," dog owner Margaret Christy said.

Buddha ran away from home last Wednesday. Oliver disappeared while they were out searching for Buddha.

"When you lose a pet, you kind of give up to cars maybe, but you don't really think about deliberate, intentional harm," Christy said.

The family says hours after the dogs disappeared, they made flyers.

Less than 24 hours later, they got the heartbreaking news from a worker in the area who discovered the lifeless animals.

"I looked at him. I asked, 'You have word?' He said, 'Yes, but I don't think it's good.' The poor guy had to deliver the news that he had seen their bodies," Christy said fighting back tears.

The Brandywine Valley SPCA's Law Enforcement Unit is now working the case, but admits at this point they have no leads.

However, workers say cameras in the wooded area where the dogs were dumped may help.

"We are waiting back to hear from the township to see if we can have access to the film and if it even picked up anything. We don't know, but we're hopeful it picked up something," Micaela Malloy of the SPCA said.

While investigators work to track down whose responsible for this animal cruelty, a family is left with so many unanswered questions.

Christy says she knows an arrest won't bring her beloved animals back, but says it will provide some closure and relief that a violent person is off the streets.

"I am not looking for vengeance, but I want it to stop because the other piece is if he can do that than it can escalate," Christy said.

There is $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.