Family of dog shot to death in Kyle looking for answers

KYLE, Texas - Kyle police are looking for the person who shot and killed a family’s dog in their backyard. It happened late last month in the Waterleaf neighborhood.

"I wish I could say goodbye, or I wish I could have been there at the end," the dog’s owner, Caleb Cooper, said.

Seven-year-old Dahlia was described as the best dog.

"She became my wife’s dog. She was the sweetest dog you could ever ask for. She was her forever puppy. She never really grew to full size, so she’s been looking like a puppy pretty much her whole life," Cooper said.

Cooper and his family came home from visiting family for Christmas and his wife made a gruesome discovery.

"My wife was hysterical. She just kept basically repeating her name, Dahlia, Dahlia, Dahlia is not okay, Dahlia, okay, so I ran out to the back porch, found her against the wall, dead, and I reached down real quick to make sure that she wasn’t breathing. I’m sorry, and I reached down, and I saw the bullet holes," Cooper said.

Dahlia. Photo courtesy: Kyle Police Department

Kyle police said Dahlia was shot multiple times in the backyard.

"To think that someone was willing to do this, I just think it doesn’t make sense," Cooper said.

Cooper said he’s lived in the Waterleaf neighborhood for years and never thought something like this would happen. He said life hasn’t been the same since.

"My wife barely sleeps, I barely sleep," Cooper said. "We didn’t buy Christmas presents this year because we spent all our money for our security system because now, as you know, my family’s safety matters the most," Cooper said.

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The person or people responsible haven’t been caught yet.

"The detectives have canvased the area, they’ve reached out to all neighboring residents and made statements and requested video footage from everyone who could have a potential angle, or a camera pointed in the direction of the home," Kyle Police PIO Ashlee Bradshaw said.

Kyle police said it happened on December 20 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. They are looking for leads.

"Help us find them. I want to feel safe. I wonder why, you know, I want my neighbors to know they’re safe," Cooper said.

If you have any information to help with the investigation, call the Kyle Police Department. Information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward. You can report tips anonymously through Hays County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-324-TIPS (8477), online at http://callcrimestoppers.com, or by using the P3 Tips app on your smartphone.