A dog was shot and killed Friday while out for a walk with its owner on a series of trails at the Knights Pond preserve between North Yarmouth and Cumberland.
The incident happened at a little after 11 a.m. The dog and owner were walking on the Blue Trail, on the west side of the pond.
The dog died at the scene. Cumberland police said the dog was not wearing blaze orange and may have been mistaken for a prey animal.
Hunting is permitted in the area, and the shooter was wearing an orange vest, according to police, who said he had already left before police were called.
The police did not make contact with the shooter, but said that when they caught sight of him, he did not appear to be attempting to evade the police.
He is described as a tall, white man, who was driving in a black GMC toward Cumberland on Route 9.
The state of Maine requires that anyone who shoots a dog during while hunting must report it within 24 hours to the Warden Service. Since this is a state holiday, the hunter will not be able to report until Monday.
Anyone with information relevant to this case is asked to call the Warden Service at 207-287-8000.
