Islip Terrace family devastated after beloved pit bull shot dead

ISLIP TERRACE (WABC) -- The Suffolk County SPCA is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for shooting and killing a male pit bull.

The SPCA was notified Saturday that the dog, Jax, was found by his owner in the fenced-in rear yard of a home in Islip Terrace and had blood coming out of its mouth.

"He never growled at anybody," owner Connie Balk said. "He never bit anybody."

SPCA Chief Roy Gross said that Jax was brought to Grady Animal Hospital in Sayville, where a necropsy was performed. It determined that the dog was killed by a pellet shot to the chest that tore through his lungs and aorta.

The family describes Jax was a lovable 4-year old who was a member of the family and loved eating yogurt right out of the container. Boxes were one of his favorite toys.

Balk said she tried to help, but there was too much blood.

"I tried to give him mouth to mouth, but he was gone," she said. "I tried to pump his chest. He was gone."

John Balk said it happened in the morning, after he had let Jax into the backyard. He knew something was wrong when 15 minutes passed without Jax coming back inside.

"I go out I see him laying on the ground," he said. "I said 'Jax, what's going on? Let's go. Let's get inside.'"

But Jax was already dead.

"People are mean," John said. "People are actually mean to do this."

The family is determined to track down those responsible, setting up a Facebook page called Justice for Jax that has nearly 8,000 likes and counting. They've also set up signs in their backyard so that everyone knows they're not letting this go.

"This guy, persons, will be caught," he said. "We will not stop."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722.

All calls will be kept confidential.