Owners of murdered dogs ask for public’s help

The owners of the two Chester County dogs found fatally shot between the eyes Sunday broke their public silence this morning to thank the public for its support and try to prevent more carnage.

"It's important they find out who did this," said James Milliner, issuing a plea for anyone with information to contact authorities.

"Who knows what this person is capable of?" added his girlfriend, Laura Peperato.

The dogs - a 11 /2-year-old German shorthaired pointer named Emma and a 2-year-old mix of the same breed called Luna - were reported missing Sunday morning from the Milliner farm in Pocopson Township. They were found that afternoon, shot execution-style and positioned tail to tail, about six miles away in Pennsbury Township.

Milliner said he, Peperato and his cousin, Paul Bartholomew, who all live on the property, drove to Lancaster County about two years ago after seeing an ad for a litter of five puppies - a mix of golden retriever and German shorthaired pointer, two of Milliner's favorite breeds.

"Paul spotted her, and said, 'That's definitely the one,' " said Milliner, describing his purchase of Luna.

He said Luna, who was hanging back from the group, seemed more reserved and shy. Milliner said that because his grandparents, both of whom are in their 90s, also live on the farm, they didn't want an aggressive pet.

"Just the sweetness of her appealed to us," he said.

Once they realized how smart and well-behaved she was, their bond grew even stronger, Milliner said.

About a year later, the three decided that Luna, by then known as "Old Loon Dog," needed a companion to help her keep deer out of the garden and discourage groundhogs from digging holes in the horse pasture. They traveled north of Philadelphia, where Paul bought Emma, the runt of a litter of German short-haired pointers.

"You couldn't ask for better dogs," Milliner said, adding that the pair quickly became inseparable.

He said Emma enjoyed picking up bones and making snorting sounds, a habit that earned her the nickname "Piglet."

Bartholomew said suggestions that they or the dogs might have had enemies are baseless.

"There can't be anything further from the truth," he said, calling "a random act of cruelty" a more likely scenario.

Could the dogs have been coaxed into a vehicle?

"Very easily," Milliner said. "They were very obedient; if anyone called them, they would come."

Cheryl Shaw, one of three officers from the Chester County SPCA working the case with assistance from state police at the Avondale barracks, said investigators are following up numerous leads, but nothing has yet proved promising.

One witness reported seeing a red Ford F-150 pickup truck with a cap, parked along Brintons Bridge Road with lights flashing sometime between 1 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, near where the dogs' bodies were found. Shaw said investigators would like to talk to the owner of that vehicle.

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever committed the crimes has increased to $15,000.

Anyone interested in contributing to the reward fund may call the Chester County SPCA at 610-692-6113, Ext. 215. Checks made out to CCSPCA can be mailed to the agency at 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, Pa. 19380.