A 10-year-old border collie will live out his last years in the home of a Flanders veterinarian after a couple tried to kill the dog with a BB gun because they could no longer afford him, police said.

A 10-year-old border collie will live out his last years in the home of a Flanders veterinarian after a couple tried to kill the dog with a BB gun because they could no longer afford him, police said.

Keith M. Ropp, 26, of the Flanders section of Mount Olive, and his girlfriend, Carly M. McBride, 24, of Long Valley, walked Scout to a wooded area adjacent to Drakesdale Road in Mount Olive Saturday and Ropp shot the dog six times with a BB gun in an attempt to kill the dog, according to a criminal complaint.

When the dog did not die, the couple took Scout to Flanders Veterinary Clinic, located off Route 206, around 2:45 p.m. Saturday and told the receptionist that their dog had been shot, according to Dr. Nicholas Minervini, a veterinarian at the clinic who treated the dog.

On Thursday, Minervini told the New Jersey Herald that when he questioned the couple, they said a person trespassed on their property and shot their dog.

He became suspicious, he said, when the couple told him they did not call police.

"I found it unusual. If someone shoots your dog, don't you immediately call (police)?" he said.

In order to prevent them from leaving, Minervini brought the couple into an exam room while the receptionist called police.

The complaint indicates Ropp used a .177 caliber Daisy Powerline 415 carbon dioxide-powered BB pistol, considered a handgun due to its "propelling force ... to injure a person or property."

While the report indicates Ropp shot the dog six times, Minervini performed X-rays and found two puncture wounds on the dog. A BB pellet was found lodged in the back of the dog's neck and another lodged in the soft tissue in the chest, barely missing Scout's heart.

Minervini said Scout was able to walk into the clinic by himself, and while he didn't appear to be in serious pain, he was given pain medicine and antibiotics as a precaution.

The BB pellets will not be surgically removed, Minervini said, since they are not creating a health risk.

According to court records, when Ropp and McBride were asked to go to police headquarters for questioning, Ropp was checked for weapons and several BB pellets fell out of his pocket.

Ropp admitted that he could not afford Scout and they were "taking the dog for a final walk before either putting him down or dropping him off at a shelter," the police affidavit states.

In separate interviews with police, Ropp and McBride said they had planned for a few hours to shoot Scout and after taking the dog into the woods, Ropp shot the dog.

Scout was registered to a relative of McBride's but she and Ropp were caring for the dog, according to the complaint. A media report indicated that Scout's owner does not want to claim him.

Scout, who had no other health issues except a mild case of Lyme disease, for which he had no symptoms and is being treated, is expected to make a full recovery.

On Thursday, the black and white collie was enjoying walking around the clinic and napping under Dr. Jesse Gasparro's desk, Minervini said.

Scout, who is being called the clinic's new "mascot," will now enjoy the comfort of a new home since Gasparro, a veterinarian at the clinic, has bonded with him and has agreed to adopt him.

Gasparro had always wanted a dog companion to his cat, Lily, but the apartment he was living in with his wife did not allow them, according to Minervini. Coincidentally, he said, Gasparro, his wife and cat moved into a house a month ago and had been looking for a canine companion.

"Scout is a fantastic, mellow dog. He likes to stay in his cubicle and has bonded with everyone here, but especially with Dr. Gasperro," Minervini said.

Minervini said that while he has seen dogs inflicted with bullets or BB pellets during his time as a veterinarian, it is a "very rare occurrence" to see it at his clinic in Flanders.

"It's honestly such a shame that this happened," he added.

Ropp and McBride were initially charged on Oct. 6 with second-degree possession of weapons for an unlawful purpose and third-degree unlawful possession of weapons.

On Thursday, Mount Olive Police announced they had filed additional charges against both Ropp and McBride.

Ropp and McBride are each facing additional charges of fourth-degree conspiracy to commit animal cruelty and a disorderly persons offense of animal cruelty. Ropp is also charged with fourth-degree animal cruelty.

Ropp was initially released by police but due to the additional charges, he has been lodged in the Morris County Jail. McBride was released pending a court appearance.

If convicted on their charges, Ropp faces up to 18.5 years in prison and McBride faces 17 years in prison.

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Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.