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By Evelyn Romo |

Jupiter Police are looking for a man who they say shot a dog’s snout at a park

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Palm Beach County detectives are looking for a man who they say shot a dog in the face at a park near Jupiter.

Deputies responded to Kennedy Estates Park, located in the 6800 block of Booker T. Boulevard, around 7:15 p.m. Saturday and found a 10-year-old chocolate lab mix named Boots suffering from a gunshot wound to the snout. Boots hada broken jaw and several of his teeth were knocked out from the gunshot. He had to have emergency surgery. Luckily, he is recovering from his injuries and is expected to survive.

Ashley Miller, president of Mutty Paws Rescue, said it’s a miracle Boots survived the shooting as the bullet entered through his snout and exited at the bottom fracturing his lower jaw.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the man who shot at Boots was in a white, four-door Honda Accord with three people inside. They say the vehicle drove into the park, a man got out of the vehicle, went up to Boots — who was loose at the time — and fired one round into his snout.

The gunman then got back into the Accord and took off toward Indiantown Road, according to a surveillance photo. He’s described as 6 feet tall with a tall, thin building. He has short dreadlocked hair with red highlighted tips.

Honda Accord flees the scene of a dog shooting at Kennedy Estates Park in Jupiter on April 2, 2022.jpg

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Honda Accord flees the scene of a dog shooting at Kennedy Estates Park in Jupiter on April 2, 2022.

Martha Velezquez, who lives in the neighborhood, said it’s typically a quiet area but is concerned as the shooting happened by Kennedy Estates Park.

Miller said the owner surrendered Boots and his three siblings to the organization. She expects Boots should be ready for adoption in a couple of months.

“He’s been through a lot,” said Miller. “He’s a fighter. He’s going to make somebody a very lovely companion for their family.”

Two of his sisters will go to Darbster Doggy in Chichester, New Hampshire, where they’ll be put up for adoption.

Mutty Paws Rescue is offering a $500 reward for tips that lead to an arrest.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 800-458-TIPS.