EAST PROVIDENCE – Police are investigating the death of a dog that was shot in the head after it got loose from its owners' home last week.

The dog, a husky named Niko, went missing from its Lakeside Street home Tuesday morning. Niko was found Tuesday night near Forbes and Lunn streets with what appeared to be a minor injury to his head, the police said in a news release posted to Facebook.

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But a veterinarian determined that the dog had been shot with a pellet or a small-caliber bullet, the police said. Niko died from his injuries.

The distance between Lakeside Street, where the dog lived, and Forbes and Lunn streets, where his body was found, is about a quarter-mile.

Mayor Bob DaSilva went on Facebook on Sunday to urge residents to help the police with their investigation into the death of "the beloved family pet of an East Providence family."

Noting that Niko had been seen late Tuesday morning near Willett Pond, DaSilva urged residents and businesses in the area of Forbes Street and Willett Pond in Riverside to review footage on their security cameras "for anything that could help the police determine what happened to Niko."

East Providence detectives and Animal Control are investigating. The police ask anyone with information to call Detective Genevieve O'Connell at (401)-435-7600.

On Tuesday morning, DaSilva posted that the city will set up an account for anyone willing to donate toward a reward for information leading to the identification of the person or people responsible. He said "numerous people" had contacted him wanting to offer a reward.

Anyone wishing to contribute can mail or drop off a check to the City of East Providence Mayor's Office, 145 Taunton Ave., East Providence, RI, 02914. The check should be made out to the City of East Providence with “Reward Fund for Niko” in the memo line.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: East Providence dog shot, killed after escaping, public's help sought