posted June 29, 2012 09:26 AM            

The Lower Saucon Township owner of a dog that was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon by a neighbor said his family is mourning the loss, and he hopes the incident reminds others to call authorities before harming pets that may have gotten loose.

Police said Arthur Santos Melo, 39, of the 2100 block of Saucon Avenue, fatally shot the Alaskan husky about 7 p.m. Wednesday after finding the animal on his property, “attacking his chickens and rabbits,” according to a police report.

Melo is charged with violating a township ordinance prohibiting the firing of a weapon within 150 yards of an occupied home.

Alex Szlachtianshyn, 32, said his family adopted Roscoe, who was about 10 years old, only a few months ago after the dog had retired from training other canines in dog sledding. Szlachtianshyn worked with the tri-colored canine for several years before he brought him to his Lower Saucon Township home, he said.

“The dog lived a good life and this was his retirement,” Szlachtianshyn said, his voice occasionally betraying his sadness. “I just don’t get it. It’s just unfathomable how someone could just shoot a dog.”

A message left at Melo’s home was not returned Thursday.

Szlachtianshyn said his family began looking for Roscoe shortly after noticing he had escaped from their fenced-in yard Wednesday evening. Part of the fence had been damaged in a recent storm.

Szlachtianshyn cut the lawn as his wife and their 2-year-old son went out to look for the dog.

“Next thing I know a neighbor is knocking on my shoulder and said, 'Somebody killed your dog,'” Szlachtianshyn said.

Szlachtianshyn said he found the dog dead about 5 feet from Melo’s chicken pen and said he doesn’t doubt Roscoe was interested in the fowl.

“I’m sure he was pacing around the pen. I’m not going to deny that,” Szlachtianshyn said. “But call the police, give me a fine. Just don’t kill my dog.”

Szlachtianshyn said Roscoe was a favorite at Skytop Lodge in Skytop, Pa. in the Pocono Mountains -- known for his gentle disposition, colorful markings and sharp intelligence.

“He had an interest in what was to him, a new world,” Szlachtianshyn. “He’s learning everything about the area. He was super playful. It sucks that he’s gone. I was expecting to have him with me the whole winter, and hopefully for five or six more winters.”

While growing up in Liberty Township, Szlachtianshyn said he lost a dog to a neighbor who had shot the animal. Wednesday’s incident brought back painful memories.

“That was bad enough. To have it again in the same lifetime … it’s just too much,” he said.

Szlachtianshyn said he hopes his toddler son is too young to remember what happened.

“But (my son) has been calling his name all day,” Szlachtianshyn said. “That’s the hard part. We just want to make sure everyone knows about this and that something like this doesn't happen again."