German shepherd puppy shot dead, beheaded in 'targeted attack' against Kansas cop

'The level of cowardice... is astonishing'

The investigators believe that it was a targeted attack because of the dog owner's career in law enforcement. The Parsons Police Department initially offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The reward has been increased to $4,000 after residents added donations.

"I cannot even describe my feelings of disdain for the person(s) responsible. I am an avid dog lover as I have made it clear to the community over the years that I have been here, I have 2 rescue dogs, one that I adopted from our local shelter," Spinks said in a statement. "The level of cowardice that would lead someone to kill a little puppy named 'Ranger' is astonishing."

'Our officers are attacked, hit, kicked, bit, scratched'

"It appears that Ranger was removed from the backyard by the suspects and taken to another location where he was probably shot in the head," a police statement said. "Its head was then sliced off. If someone is willing to mutilate an innocent puppy due to the very nature of the owner's career, then it is possible that the suspect is willing to go even farther and attack innocent children or family members to make a statement." The dog's decapitated body and head were then brought back to the yard. 

Parsons Police Deputy Chief Dennis Dodd added, "Our officers are attacked, hit, kicked, bit, scratched, called every name in the book and even spit on, as a part of our job, but this kind of senseless attack on a puppy at the home of an officer can't be tolerated."

People on social media were outraged at the news. One of them said, "Anybody that Intentionally Hurts, Maim or Muder a Dog is a HUGE PIECE OF SHIT & DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON & SHUNNED FROM SOCIETY! Dogs are a Gift from God & FAMILY!"

A second noted, "Please, PLEASE nail this SOB . . . whoever it is, they are nothing more than a disgusting, pathetic, sorry ass excuse for a human being." A commenter tweeted, "Beyond Sick! Sad! What is wrong with these kind of citizens in the U.S. to attack a dog. They should be caught & punished." A person reacted, "Is 'civil life' dead? They're beheading policeman's dogs now? How low can people go? The lawlessness in the USA is 'the OTHER virus'!"