Farmer’s border collie shot dead in sick act in South Gippsland

A farmer’s beloved border collie was shot dead and dumped in a pit in South Gippsland. The dog’s heartbroken owners say he was “one-of-a-kind”.

Gus was killed by a gun shot in Korumburra. Picture: Supplied

A farming family has been rocked by the death of their border collie, who was shot and dumped near their home in South Gippsland.

John and Sharon Kelly found their beloved dog Gus in a neighbour’s silage pit in Korumburra on July 5.

They said Gus had wandered from their property the day before and within 20 minutes had disappeared.

“When I realised he wasn’t there, I jumped in the Land Crusier and searched for him,” Mr Kelly said.

“I couldn’t see him which is very unlike Gus.”

Mr Kelly said Gus rarely wandered and didn’t go on other properties.

He believes the killer picked him up outside their back gate.

Mrs Kelly said was devastated when she found Gus’ body the day after he went missing.

“At that stage I didn’t know how he had died but I knew it didn’t look like he had died in the place I found him,” she said.

Gus was John and Sharon Kelly's only black and white dog. Picture: Supplied

Senior Sergeant Peter Watson said the three-year-old working dog was found in a “deep depression” next to stockyards on Henry’s Lane, near the intersection of Bellview Lane.

“The dog was deceased and appeared to have been shot in the chest with a shotgun,” Sen-Sgt Watson said.

The farmers said Gus was a one-of-a-kind dog that loved working on the farm, sitting around the campfire and swimming in the river.

“He was a very well trained cattle dog,” Mr Kelly said.

“He was in the prime of his life.”

Mr Kelly said the person who killed Gus needed to “put the gun away”.

“They need to have a good look at themselves,” he said.

“They need to sort their life out.”

Mr Kelly said Gus, who was worth about $8000, was essential to the farm’s operation.

“We run 1000 to 1400 cattle at a time which is why we need horses and the 10 other dogs,” he said.

“He filled the gap between the young and old dogs and now there’s a gap in the team structure.”

Sen-Sgt Watson said the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who has information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Originally published as Farmer’s border collie shot dead in sick act in South Gippsland