New Home For Morris Co. Dog Shot With BB Gun: Report

MOUNT OLIVE, NJ — A veterinarian at Flanders Veterinary Clinic has decided to adopt the dog that was treated at his clinic after being shot with a BB gun, according to a report from the New Jersey Herald.

Scout, the 10-year-old border collie, will now reside with Dr. Jesse Gasparro and his wife in their new home, the report said. The Herald reported that the couple wanted a dog companion for their cat, Lily, but the apartment he was living in with his wife did not allow them. As luck would have it, Gasparro, his wife and cat moved into a house a month ago and had been looking for a canine companion, the report said.

Scout's previous owners, Keith M. Ropp, 26, from Flanders, and Carly McBride, 24, from Long Valley, were already facing weapons charges in relation to the alleged Oct. 6 attack on the dog, police said. On Thursday, Mount Olive Police confirmed that Ropp is also now charged with fourth-degree animal cruelty and both Ropp and McBride are each facing additional charges of fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty and a disorderly persons offense of animal cruelty.

After shooting the dog the pair took the dog to the Flanders Veterinary Clinic that afternoon, where staff members noticed injuries that looked like gunshot wounds, police said.

Veterinary staff called police, who took the pair to headquarters for questioning. According to police, Ropp and McBride took McBride's dog into the woods near Drakesdale Road earlier that day where Ropp shot the dog with a BB gun in an effort to kill it.

The pair allegedly tried to kill the dog because they could no longer care for it, but took it to the vet when they realized the dog was still alive, the Daily Record reported.

Both were arrested at the headquarters and charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, animal cruelty and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty. Ropp was also charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, and McBride was charged with unlawful possession of weapons.

McBride was released with an upcoming court date, and Ropp was taken to the Morris County Correctional Facility. Both are expected in Morris Superior Court on Oct. 24.

(Image courtesy of Google Earth)

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