Wyoming Rancher Loses Border Collie to Mysterious Gunshot Wound

A Wyoming family faces heartbreak after their beloved Border Collie returned home only to collapse and die from a fatal gunshot wound. Drover, a six-year-old herding dog, lived with dad Nate Penn on the ranch before tragedy struck early morning on September 5. His wife found him dead just outside the back door where he usually greeted everyone each day.

Penn told Cowboy State Daily that the dog must have dragged himself miles away from Fort Washakie using sheer willpower. He believes a .22-caliber rifle was used because the entry and exit wounds were small and similar in size, unlike larger bullets meant for deer hunting. The initial thought was rib bones caused the death, but inspection revealed a bullet had pierced directly through his body between the hind legs and flank.

Drover worked hard guarding livestock at night by scaring off raccoons while running clockwise circles around whatever task he watched over. He slept outside the children's room during summer months and always came back when called with high energy. The family buried him on their property after saying difficult goodbyes to other animals they had lost before.

Nate Penn insists his children are tough farm kids who can keep going, though they still miss their buddy deeply. He noted that the dog never chased livestock or bothered cats and chickens, yet lived in an area surrounded by aggressive stray dogs known as rez dogs. Drover wore a collar and was well groomed so no one could mistake him for a local stray.

The owner refuses to name a suspect right now because investigating further offers little hope of justice. He explained that since the shooting happened off their land, there is limited legal recourse available despite his strong suspicions about who did it. This case highlights how private ranches remain vulnerable when law enforcement cannot reach incidents happening on neighboring or distant property.

The community risks feeling unsafe knowing stray dogs roam freely while a well-trained pet falls victim to violence miles away from home. Information remains scarce as the owner avoids reporting the crime, fearing it will yield nothing good for anyone involved. Families like this one bear the emotional weight of losing companions who protected them without expecting protection in return.