Salma Hayek is in mourning. Hayek took to Instagram on Friday to post a picture of Mozart – her murdered dog – and an appeal to the Washington state authorities to find the person responsible for gunning down her companion of nine years. Hayek’s big brown shepherd mix died a week ago after being shot dead on her property.
According to CNN on Feb. 27, Hayek has a passion for animals, and her sprawling ranch and property serve as a sanctuary of sorts for several rescue dogs, who along with chickens, cats, horses and alpacas, call her ranch home.
“I haven’t posted for a week as I been mourning the death of my dog, Mozart, who I personally delivered out of his mother’s womb,” wrote the 49-year-old Mexican-American film actress. “He was found dead in my ranch last Friday with a shot close to his heart.”
She continued her heart-wrenching message, posting that she is “hoping that the Washington State authorities do justice to this wonderful dog whom in 9 years never bit or attacked anyone. He loved his territory and never strayed away… he was the most loving and loyal companion. He didn’t deserve a slow and painful death.”
According to Thurston County officials, Salma Hayek’s beloved pet was killed on Friday, February 19. Authorities have indicated they currently have no suspects in the shooting, and are asking anyone with any information to step forward.
The longtime animal advocate voiced her outrage after Zimbabwe’s beloved celebrity cat, Cecil the Lion, was killed by a Minnesota dentist on a staged hunt in July of last year. “I think that we are in trouble when we take suffering and killing as a sport and as a way of entertaining and having a trophy,” Hayek told ET Online. “The people who need a trophy to tell the world they’re very good killers, there’s something wrong with them. And it’s very disturbing.”
The former model and guest-star on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock always encourages her fans to reach out to animal shelters to adopt pets. Over the holidays, she shared a photo of Lupe, her oldest rescue dog.
“I rescued my Mexican street dog #lupe 15 years ago and she’s been my #bff and my greatest companion,” she wrote on Instagram. “What a better way to show someone your love. You save a dog, save some money haha but you might also be saving the person you are giving it to. Like my #lupe saved me.”
As the actress’s sad news makes its way through social media, thousands have posted well wishes to Hayek’s Instagram page. Unanswered questions have left Hayek and her fans unsettled – was Mozart shot dead intentionally or was it a mistake made by a hunter? Was he executed up close or from a long range away? Hayek said Mozart never strayed, so what reason would someone have to murder Selma Hayek’s beloved pet?
