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Service dog shot during burglary

By Bianca Cain Johnson

Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 9, 2012 7:23 AM

Last updated Thursday, May 10, 2012 1:14 AM

Comments (10)

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A disabled veteran’s service dog is recovering after being shot during a burglary Monday night.

According to a statement released Tuesday by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, someone entered the veteran’s home in the 2300 block of Gardner Street and shot Balto, a 3-year-old English Lab.

Kinga Kiss-Johnson, 35, told deputies she had been gone about an hour and a half and when she returned about 7:30 p.m., she found the animal on the couch with a gunshot wound.

A deputy found a side window at the residence open and unsecured. Kiss-Johnson said Wednesday that she is looking for another place to live after the latest burglary. Richmond County sheriff’s records show it is the third report filed at the residence this year.

A burglary was reported on New Year’s Day and a criminal trespass reported May 3.

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seenitB4 05/09/12 - 07:59 am

shoot a dog

too bad he wasn't a mean pit bull...

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InChristLove 05/09/12 - 08:27 am

I hope the dog makes a full

I hope the dog makes a full recovery. The article never stated whether anything was taken from the residence and just out of pure curosity, if the victim is disabled why was the service dog left at the residence? Maybe Balto wasn't needed because she had someone else going with her or taking her some place. I know space is limited but I hate when details are not mentioned.

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movingtoaugusta 05/09/12 - 10:54 am

Time for cameras on street lights

Time and time again, the Sand Hills and Harrisburg neighborhoods have proved to be the victims of home invasion, theft, burglary and tresspassing based crimes. Why not put cameras on every street light and make the area a special tax district that if you get caught committing a crime in this area, you have to pay, in addition to a manditory 5 year visit to tent city, a special $5,000 fine to help pay for the cameras and their operators. Enough is enough.

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AutumnLeaves 05/09/12 - 11:33 am

Unsecured Window.

If I was writing the article I would have left that part out about the unsecured window in the news article for the sake of the investigation. It wasn't necessary. Besides, it's hot and not everyone can afford air-conditioning.

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henrystripe 05/09/12 - 06:19 pm

FYI for SeenitB4

You are apparently operating under a common misconception about pit bulls. You are definitely not alone in your misunderstanding.

Pitbulls are sweet animals and NOT mean or aggressive by nature. They are made that way by low-life PEOPLE, like Michael Vick, with a sick need to torture animals and to watch the effects of that cruel upbringing for sport in dogfighting. It is very sad.

In fact, many of Vick's dogs have been rehabilitated and are now living a happy ending: http://www.parade.com/news/2010/08/15-vicks-dogs.html

This issue is very personal to me because we took in an abused pit bull. Daisy was the sweetest. most soulful animal I have ever seen and gave us more than a decade of unconditional love. Unfortunately, I know there are more abused pit bulls like her out there that need to be rescued and loved.

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AutumnLeaves 05/09/12 - 09:16 pm

Misconception.

Pitbulls are very sweet for owners that love them. But they are also much more territorial and protective of their owners by their nature than a lab which tragically can be both good and/or bad. No matter how well-trained, well-loved and how good the owners' intentions are one quick move by a newcomer in a home, (like a baby or toddler) or a visitor at the door, could generate an instinctive reaction by a pitbull, and their jaws are designed through years of breeding for the trait to do quick and decisive damage. For most children and adults of small stature, that could easily be lethal. I would never own one. I've seen the damage pits and bull-dogs can do to a person. Why go out of my way to own one?

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natman234 05/10/12 - 12:27 am

go dog

Where do I send my donation?....First of all this is a disabled veteran...Second of all this dog took a bullet defending the castle of the person who defended our freedom...

I want to help this dog. He does his job helping this hero who defended our freedom ABOVE and BEYOND...BOTH OF THEM...How can I help?

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seenitB4 05/10/12 - 07:06 am

Love dogs

Henry...I love all dogs......sorry if I hurt your feelings.......some dogs have a reputation of meaness & some are more protective than others....I know from the sharpeis I have owned.....A sharpei can react just like a pit bull.....some vets don't even want to deal with them.....but lordy-lordy how I loved & miss my male black sharpei....whenever he was around me I always felt safe........some dogs just can't be replaced...

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itsanotherday1 05/10/12 - 08:49 am

AutumnLeaves sums it up quite

AutumnLeaves sums it up quite well... They ARE sweet dogs, but when they turn, the damage inflicted can be fatal. My neighbor had one that would lick you to death, but she got out one day and killed some neighborhood pets. I just can't trust them based on what I've seen.

I hope this pooch recovers and they find the low life who shot her.