Eden Prairie, M.N. – A nonprofit that helps breed and place assistance dogs with people says a canine they trained belonging to the late Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman’s family was also killed in last weekend’s shootings.
On their Facebook page, Helping Paws Inc. in Eden Prairie shared photos of the dog named Gilbert.
“This is a profound loss for the entire Helping Paws community,” the post read in part. “We are mourning the loss of two dedicated volunteers [Hortman and her spouse] and one of our beloved dogs who once trained in our program.”
The post went on to say that they will soon have “a formal announcement regarding the establishment of a fund in honor of the Hortman family and Gilbert.”
Hortman and her husband were allegedly shot and killed by 57-year old Vance Boelter.
Helping Paws says the fund will support their program that places service dogs with veterans and first responders living with PTSD.
As of mid-afternoon on Tuesday, the social media post had almost ten thousand shares on Facebook.
“Thank you for holding this family—and our community—in your heart.”
