Therapy service dog helping two little boys grieve their veteran father's death is mysteriously shot dead while out on a family walk

A family's therapy dog that was helping two young boys grieve their father was mysteriously shot three times and had to be put down. 

Arielle Brandenburg, from Minnesota, was walking her cattle dog and red healer mix, Gus, down her driveway with her two young sons on June 15 when they lost sight of him for 15 minutes.

When Gus reappeared he had been shot three times by an unknown gunman and his injuries were so severe the family had to put him down. 

Mourning his loss, Brandenburg said 'Gus was a certified therapy dog that got two little boys through the biggest heart ache of their lives' after the death of their Iraq War veteran father, Jeremy. 

Police are investigating the shooting and searching for the gunman. 

Arielle told Fox: 'Whenever he was anxious and scared and was grieving, [Gus] came on top of him and was this weighted blanket, and truly was his best friend, and was there through the intense grief process of losing a parent.'

The boys' father, an Iraq War veteran who suffered from PTSD, died from suicide a year-and-a-half ago. 

Gus comforted the boys when they were upset or scared.

But on June 15, just after 6pm, Gus ran to the front porch of their house bleeding heavily from his back leg after being out with the family.  

They called police and rushed him to the emergency room, but vets discovered a .22 caliber bullet had traveled to his lungs and said they had no choice but to put him down. 

The boys were given a chance to say goodbye to Gus who had been with the family for five years.

Arielle told Fox: 'There was comfort care enough for the boys to say "goodbye" and get a paw print, and love on him one last time.

'Reece told Gus, “I hope you find Daddy and keep him company."'

The gunman has not yet been identified but Carver County Sheriff’s Office are investigating. 

Writing on Facebook, Arielle said: 'You truly took away a family member this morning and a piece of my heart.

'If anyone had any information or can think of anyone who would have done this in Norwood please reach out to me.'

After she shared the incident on Facebook, Arielle told Fox a neighbor had messaged her saying her horse had also been shot, suggesting it may be a pattern of attacks. 

Arielle said: 'I'm terrified to put my horses near the road, or have my kids even drive their dirt bikes alone. It's too scary at this point.'