An autopsy was performed on George's body prior to cremation. From the investigation, it was determined that George was shot in the chest while standing on all four legs. There was a single bullet that entered the chest and punctured his lungs. George died from internal bleeding and from his lungs filling with blood.
Because of the way the bullet entered the body, George could not have been shot at close range. There was no evidence of powder burns nor of tissue necrosis, both of which should have been detected if events had occurred as reported by John Hurlman.
These results readily dispute John Hurlman's claims that he shot George when "he lunged at him" and "when the dog kept advancing on him".
The actual text of the autopsy report appears below. At his request, to respect the privacy of the attending veterinarian, his name and clinic name have been blocked out.
On September 24, 1997 I examined a deceased neutered, male, adult, yellow Laborador Retriever identified as "George", owned by Jane and Jeff Scheidler. This cadaver was delivered to <xxxxxxxx> Veterinary Hospital on September 24 from P.W.D. INc. after being retained in cold storage.
This individual was in good flesh. It weighed 46.9 kilograms. Blood was noted in the mouth, on the muzzle, on the dorsal interscapular region, and on the left lateral scapular region. A penetrating wound was noted in the dorsal interscapular region representing a bullet entrance wound. No bullet exit wound was noted.
Radiography of the head, neck, thorax and cranial abdomen was performed but no overt visualization of a bullet was noted. All boney structures were intact, including the skull.
Examination of the mouth, oral cavity, and pharynx revealed blood in the orac cavity, but no evidence of a bullet wound or otherwise trauma was noted.
Examination of the dorsal interscapular cutaneous wound revealed no tissue necrosis or gunpowder residue. Dissection of the associated deeper subcutaneous tissue demonstrated extensive bruising along a ventrocaudal path approaching the thoracic cavity. Further dissection demonstrated free blood in the thoracic cavity. The heart was intact and normal, and an irregular hole was noted in the middle left aspect of the diaphragm.
Examination of the abdomen revealed an irregular hole in the left lobe of the liver and an extensive amount of free blood in the abdominal cavity. All other abdominal viscera were intact. Nor further gross abnormailities were noted in the abdominal cavity.
Cause of death was determined to be hypovolemic shock secondary to exasangination into a body cavity as a result of thoracic and abdominal visceral hemorage.
<xxxxxxxxxx>, D.V.M