Kyera and Dozer Boy were indoor dogs. They went into the backyard three times a day, about 20 minutes at a time, and that was about it.
On the morning of August 8 however, they didn’t come back.
Toxicologists are now testing to see if the two Firestone Colorado dogs, found dead in their backyard that day, were poisoned. The case is under investigation by the Firestone Police Department, who said a “person of interest” has been identified.
“The community of Firestone is paying close attention to this investigation and (we) are appalled by the death of these two precious companions,” Chief David Montgomery said in a statement.
The dogs’ owners, Travis and Tesla Dougherty, moved to Firestone on July 22. Kyera, a German Shepherd from the animal shelter, and Dozer Boy, a chocolate Labrador given by a friend, were part of the family for about seven years.
“They both would lick you to death before doing anything else,” said Tesla Dougherty.
Kyera was a sweetheart who readily posed for pictures in costume each Halloween, she said, and Dozer Boy was a persistent shadow who would follow family members as they left the room and “acted more like a human than a dog.”
Tesla Dougherty sent the dogs out for their morning run that Monday, then 20 minutes later went to let them back in, she said. But they weren’t waiting on the back porch as usual.
Worried, she went into the backyard, where she found the bodies of both dogs.
“I panicked,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
She called her dad, then her sister (a veterinary tech), then veterinarians. Firestone police were called in shortly after.
Initial testing of the dogs found nothing unusual in their stomachs. The family, unsatisfied, sent one dog to Colorado State University for a follow-up.
The examination found a ball of meat in the dog’s esophagus; CSU then referred the matter to toxicologists at Texas A&M for more testing. Those results have yet to come back.
Tesla Dougherty said she and her husband are dealing with it all “minute by minute.”
“They were extremely loved,” she said of the dogs. “They were part of the family.”
That makes me sick to my stomach! Had that been my dogs? The person of interest would be safer in the custody of the police. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t track the SOB down after he/she was released though!
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN REALLY STRONG POISON, THE DOGS DIED AND THE MEAT NEVER EVEN MADE IT TO THEIR STOMACHS…IT WAS IN THEIR ESOPHAGUS. WHAT A SHAME. WHY ON EARTH DO PEOPLE WANT TO DO AWFUL THINGS LIKE THIS? PEOPLE ARE GETTING WORSE I THINK. THOSE POOR DOGS WERE MINDING THEIR BUSINESS ON THEIR ON PROPERTY. WHAT A SHAME. SICK.
So sad. R.I.P. precious babies.
I have 3 beautiful canine myself, And I would more than likely loose it if I lost them to some sicko…My heart goe’s out to you and your’s, and you are in my thought’s today . may the good lord help you thru this time of sorrow.
they look so cool) and nice))))
I can’t imagine the pain and agony you must be going through. RIP Kyera & Dozer Boy…..
this is terrible!!!!!!! disgusted. i feel so bad for their family. i hope the perpetrators are caught and severely punished.
Could the loss of these two dogs be related to some of the other animals living in that state who have become sick or lost their lives due to the fracking in the area for natural gas? Just a thought.
I’m so sad for this family and there 2 preciouse babies, I have a 4 year old Pug and truly I think I would lose my mind if something happend to her, she is my joy every day, as I’m sure they were yours. My heart goes out to you. God bless your family. RIP Kyera & Dozer!
What a shame, my heart breaks for the owners and their two babies, I don’t want to think what i would do if someone hurt my dog. So many sick people now a days, what is this world coming to, what a senseless tragedy!!!
God help the person if they were my dogs…..that’s all I’m gonna say…….
This is so sad and I hope they find the culprit(s). Please also be aware that there have been deaths to both cats and dogs who ingest rats or mice that have been poisoned by rat poison. People in your area might use this to control the rodent population but when the rats or mice die where they can be chewed on by our pets, the results are disasterous! Please NEVER use rat poison! You may be saving a pets life!
The Douhgerty’s have my heartfelt sympathy. So sad. And so sick. This “person of interest” can have no possible motive for such a thing other than a truly disturbed mind, needs some serious profeesional help and to be kept away from society.
The more I know people, the more I love my dogs. Just saved a puppy from sure death, he would have been dead in less than a week had I not simply taken him from this woman. He was totally eaten up from fleas, has no hair and severe worms. I’m just glad he didn’t have parvo. This has definately been a financial strain as I’m on disability, but I’d do it again tomorrow. He’ll make it and stay with me until he’s well.
Anyone who can mistreat or poison an animal deserves the same. I hope their ‘person of interest’ suffers much more than the dogs did. RIP precious dogs
I think anyone who kills or maims someone elses pet shouldbe treated the same as if they had killed or harmed a child. My dog is my child therefore you hurt my child you should be punished to the full extent of the law in the state of residence.
Reminds me of when my dog was poisoned…. ): I feel great sympathy for those two. ): I hope they can prove who did it…