Donations Sought For Dog Struck In Fatal Oxford, Conn. Shooting
OXFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) - A dog trying to protect her family during a fatal shooting in Oxford, Conn. last week is recovering from a gunshot wound.
As WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, family dog Nika, a German Shepherd mix, is recovering from surgery.
Donations Sought For Dog Struck In Fatal Oxford, Conn. Shooting
According to police, the dog was shot once after she lunged at Scott Gellatly, 46, as allegedly opened fire on his wife and mother-in-law on May 7.
Lori Gellatly, 32, was killed in the shooting; her mother was seriously wounded.
Oxford First Selectman George Temple said first responders found Nika whimpering in pain as they entered the house.
The dog was rushed to the vet, where she underwent surgery to remove a fractured rib and repair damage to her lung and liver.
Temple authorized the vet to perform the surgery.
"I would never let a dog die under those circumstances," he told Schneidau.
The dog's medical bill will be more than $10,000, Temple said. He's asking for donations to help cover the costs.
Checks should be sent to:
First Selectman's office
Oxford Town Hall
486 Oxford Road
Oxford, CT 06478
Attn: First Sel. George Temple
Write "Nika Fund" on the memo line of the check
When Nika recovers, she will be returned to Lori Gellatly's four children.
Two of the children were in the home and witnessed the shooting of their mother and grandmother.
Scott Gellatly was captured by authorities in Winsted a short time after the shooting.
According to police, Gellatly had attached a hose to his tailpipe in a suicide attempt.
Police rushed him to a hospital, where he was revived. Gellatly has been arraigned on murder charges.
Posts on Gellatly's Facebook page indicate the couple had been having marital problems for months and that she had moved out of their home, which is located in the same neighborhood.
A state spokesman said Lori Gellatly was an analyst for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Court records show she had a restraining order against her husband.
Police told CBS 2 Lori Gellatly had her mother staying with her because she was afraid of her husband.
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