HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — A Hunterdon County family is mourning after a hunter shot their beloved dog with a crossbow on Wednesday. Readington Township police said the hunter claimed to have mistaken the dog, described as an Alaskan shepherd, for a coyote.

The incident happened around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday evening in the area of Old Readington Road and Freeman Lane. Readington resident Elizabeth Mongno shared details of the incident on Facebook, and her account quickly spread.

Mongno said she was outside her house with her dog, Tonka, when Tonka began chasing a deer.

“I was following him and loudly calling him back, but we [sic] was happily chasing the deer. He has done this before and comes back 30 secs later,” she…