POSTED: 7:18 AM EST December 17, 2003

MILLVILLE, N.J. -- A man about to be shot by an intruder was saved when his dog jumped in and took the bullet for him, authorities said. The animal later died from its wound.

The shooting occurred early Monday when the 29-year-old man, who police would not identify, heard someone knock on a rear door at his Millville home. When he opened it, he saw two men, and one of them pulled out a shotgun.

As the homeowner dived to the floor to escape the gunman, authorities said the dog jumped between them and was shot one time before the two men fled. The dog's owner was not injured.

The shooting was drug related, authorities said, but further details about the dog and the weapon used were not available.

The two men remained at large early Wednesday.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/2710246/detail.html

MILLVILLE, N.J. -- A dog that reportedly took a bullet meant for its owner Sunday apparently was shot deliberately as a warning, authorities now say.

Initial reports said the pit bull mix jumped in the way of two masked intruders early Sunday morning and was shot in a scuffle. But police said that the owner's original statement was confused or incorrect.

They said the two men demanded money from the dog's owner, who was not able to pay. After first attempting to drag the dog out of the home, one of the men shot it in the back of the head, and both men fled in a white Ford Mustang.

Police had not made any arrests Wednesday, but said one of the suspects is a juvenile who is related to the dog's owner.
Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published