Justice for Ellie: Support Trevor's Legal Fight

On Sunday, September 22nd, Trevor Henderson and his beloved ten-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, Ellie, set out for an upland bird hunt, a tradition they had cherished for the past decade. What should have been a day filled with laughter, sore feet, and tired but happy dogs turned into an unimaginable nightmare that will haunt Trevor for the rest of his life.

While Trevor and his two friends checked Ellie’s location on the GPS handheld, it showed Ellie was on point. Shortly thereafter, they were startled by the sound of two gunshots. Panicked, they rushed toward Ellie’s location, and as they did, a third and the fatal shot rang out. To their horror, they saw a truck driving down the road with a rifle barrel sticking out of the window. Trevor’s heart sank as he approached Ellie, lying lifeless in a pool of her own blood.

The shooter later claimed he had mistaken Ellie for a coyote. How could this be possible? Ellie was a white and liver GSP, had two bright neon green reflective collars on, and was standing still when the shooter shot and killed her using a presumably scoped rifle at close range.

While Trevor tried to comprehend that someone had just murdered one his best friends, his friend Quinn immediately called 911, requesting both the local Sheriff and Idaho Fish and Game to respond. However, only the local Sheriff’s deputies arrived, and to Trevor and his friends' shock, they informed the group that the incident was not considered criminal and that little could be done unless Trevor pursued a civil case.

We are working closely with Idaho Fish and Game to press for criminal charges against the individual responsible for this senseless act. We are also urging the local Sheriff’s office to conduct a thorough investigation. It is vital—not just for Trevor and his family but for the entire upland and hunting community—that this tragedy is not dismissed, and that justice is served. Ellie was not just a remarkable bird dog; she was a cherished member of the Henderson family, taken from them far too soon.

The legal battle ahead for Trevor and his family will be both costly and emotionally draining. All funds raised in Ellie’s honor will be used to help Trevor cover the legal fees as they pursue justice for Ellie and to help ensure that enough awareness around this issue is raised to hopefully help prevent it from happening again to someone else.