As a Christian, I’m supposed to have forgiveness in my heart when people do wrong.

As an animal lover, I have a hard time forgiving someone who inflicts pain and suffering on a helpless creature. That realization hit me recently when something came across my desk at work about a dog that was found with gunshot wounds and other injuries near the community I live in.

Fortunately, the dog is alive and recovering, being named Sunny by the local humane society. However, reading the report that this poor creature had been shot eight times—and somehow managed to survive—had a broken leg and other wounds made me want to saddle up and track down the scumbag who did this.

Sadly, the sheriff’s department has determined that the microchip found inside the dog is registered to somebody living in another state. In other words, it’s possibly Sunny was either abandoned by the owner and attacked by someone else, or the owner brought him to Wisconsin and did the dirty deed himself.

This raises red flags for all sorts of reasons. First, law enforcement is having to spend time tracking down who the owner is. Normally, with a microchip, the animal can be reunited with owners in short order, but not in this case.

Second, the work to help the dog recover is costing a pretty penny. The humane society is seeking donations from the public, but removing multiple bullets and sewing Sunny up is an expensive prospect—all because someone wanted to shoot an animal.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand the sacrifice of animals to put food on our plates, and I understand that includes hunting wild animals. I was raised in a rural environment and am fully aware there are times when it’s necessary to kill animals.

However, dogs are not usually on the menu for American cuisine, and you don’t usually see pelts of dogs lying on the floor or heads of dogs mounted on the walls. Most times, dogs are tasked with herding or protecting cattle or other animals whose meat we consume. Dogs are also companion animals, which means many of us care for them as much as—and occasionally more than—people.

It’s important to me to point out that many of the murderers throughout history got their start by torturing and killing animals, so besides feeling for Sunny, I wonder if there’s someone out there getting ready to graduate and starting shooting people.

That’s not the sort of thought you want to have while drinking your coffee and munching on some toast.

Unfortunately, I remember plenty of times growing up in Chino Valley hearing about whole litters of kittens and puppies being abandoned in cardboard boxes to die. Fortunately, many of them were rescued before they could be killed by coyotes or other predators, but it’s clear the previous handlers didn’t care if those defenseless creatures lived or died.

Like bullies who prey on weaker humans, animal abusers seem to get off on hurting smaller things. They boost their own self-esteem on the misery of others.

I believe that if you abuse an animal, you should pay the price. However, the laws put the price pretty law, at least in Wisconsin. Most animal cruelty cases are considered misdemeanors with a maximum nine months in jail and $10,000 fine, although repeat offenders supposedly get a harsher smackdown.

If I ruled the world, the penalty for shooting a dog like Sunny would be the same as it is for shooting a person, which would be attempted murder. The threat of decades in prison might not eliminate all animal abusers, but it should make some of them think twice before they use a dog for target practice.

I’m hoping law enforcement find the perpetrator, whether it’s the out-of-state owner or someone else who stumbled upon the dog. While the penalty is paltry, some justice is better than no justice.

In the meantime, Sunny’s plight should also be a rallying cry for all of us to support our local humane societies, who are left to pick up the pieces for the animals. Sometimes they’re able to save them, but on occasion they have to take the unpleasant step of putting the animals out of their misery.

The good news is that the Shawano County Humane Society believes Sunny will recover, and people in the community are donating to help with the vet bills. A couple of folks on Facebook even said they wanted to adopt him. Hopefully, Sunny can return to a normal life again with a loving owner. Arresting the jerk who hurt him and sticking him in a cage would just be icing on the cake.