Eight-year-old Max is greatly missed by his family, northwest of Prince Albert. (submitted photo/ Conrad Zimmermann)

By Nigel Maxwell

Rural Crime

Local family searches for answers following sudden death of longtime pet

Jan 7, 2020 | 4:56 PM

A Prince Albert area family is attempting to pick up the pieces, after suffering a tragic loss less than two weeks before Christmas.

Conrad Zimmerman’s eight-year-old German Shepherd “Max” went missing on Dec. 10. Seven days later, Max’s lifeless body was discovered by Zimmerman’s 17-year-old son, lying in a “pool of bloody snow” roughly 200 yards from the family’s home. Zimmerman said he saw a bullet wound in the dog’s neck, and told paNOW there was no way a hunter could have done it.

“We actually went down into the spot and there was only one possible to way to have made that shot. It had to be close range,” he said.

Around 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 10, Zimmerman said he saw a strange black truck venture into the area before a man got out and walked around. Zimmerman said he believed his dog chased the intruder away.

“I guess he decided he wasn’t running any farther and so turned and put one in [Max],” he explained.

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For Zimmerman, Max was more than the family’s pet, he was like a son. (submitted photo/ Conrad Zimmerman)

Zimmerman said at the time he saw the vehicle he did not connect it to his dog’s disappearance. He did not hear a gunshot and thought the dog was killed by coyotes.

He described the suspicious vehicle as an older black Chevy truck, “boxy and loud.” The incident happened a week before Christmas.

“He was like my son,” Zimmerman said. “It actually hurt all my family.”

Max playing with one of his best friends. (submitted photo/Conrad Zimmermann)

As of Tuesday, Zimmerman said he was waiting to hear back from police. He was last told investigators were seeing if any other related incidents happened in the area.

A spokesperson for the RCMP revealed to paNOW there was no physical evidence and no suspects. The file has been closed unless new evidence surfaces in the case.

“I know that there is not much they can do about it, but I sure would have liked for people to know. Keep your pets inside,” Zimmermann said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell