Heading out into the great outdoors is undoubtedly a great family pastime for many of us. Unfortunately for some, it can bring out the worst, and from the way things are sounding, such was the case in this story coming out of Indiana.
A father and son are now facing felony charges after allegedly shooting and killing two beloved family dogs with a bow and arrow while deer hunting on private property. John Lowe, 58, and his 22-year-old son, Hayden Lowe, both of La Porte, were arrested following the October 21 incident that has shocked the local community and reignited debates over pet safety during hunting season.
The victims — Josie, a beagle, and Bear, a chocolate Labrador retriever — were out roaming near the hunting site when they were fatally struck by arrows raining down from 20-feet above. According to court documents, John Lowe admitted to firing the shots but claimed the dogs were barking aggressively and charging toward him, prompting him to fling carbon darts from his bow in self-defense.
And while his original statement might have swayed some, witness testimony and physical evidence quickly began to tell a different story.
According to the affidavit, the incident unfolded on private land where the Lowes had permission to hunt deer. The reports indicate that the two men were stationed in tree stands high off the ground as a neighboring hunter noted that he heard the dogs moving through the woods. The witness then told police that he suddenly heard a number of loud yelps and whimpers from the canines, prompting him to descend from his perch to investigate. What he soon found was the Lowes dragging Bear’s body along a walking path. When he engaged the two men, John stated that they were simply “looking for a place to get rid of it.”
Authorities later found the GPS collar belonging to Josie the beagle had been deliberately destroyed in an attempt to block it from tracking the disposal location. Despite Lowe's best efforts, the dog’s owner was able to use the device’s final ping location to find the dog’s body hidden in the woods.
Autopsy-like findings from the affidavit later showed that the arrow entered Josie’s upper rib cage at a sharp downward angle, consistent with a shot fired from an elevated position, not from ground level during an alleged attack.
“There was no barking prior to the yelps — only pain,” the witness told investigators.
John Lowe denied shooting the animals to avoid scaring off deer, but prosecutors and police remained skeptical of his alleged self-defense narrative.
As a result of the incident, both men appeared for initial hearings on November 5 in La Porte Circuit Court. There the two men were charged for their roles in what investigators believe to be a deliberate act of killing domesticated dogs. John Lowe was charged with two counts of Killing a Domestic Animal and one count of Obstruction of Justice while his son was left with only one count of Obstruction of Justice for his role in destroying evidence and aiding to dispose of the bodies.
La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan told local media that using a bow and arrow in the intentional killing of pets could be viewed as an aggravating factor.
“Depending on the case, we may seek a sentence closer to the maximum,” Fagan said. “The law sets the ceiling, but the method and circumstances matter.”
The case has stirred quiet outrage in La Porte County, where hunting and pet ownership often coexist uneasily. While Indiana law allows lethal force against threatening animals, domestic pets are protected, and self-defense claims must hold up under scrutiny.
Animal advocates point to this incident as a preventable tragedy.
“Responsible hunters know the difference between a threat and a wandering pet,” said a spokesperson for a regional humane society. “Destroying evidence only deepens the harm.”
Both men posted cash bond and were released shortly after arrest. No trial date has been set.
