AceShowbiz - U.S. soccer ace Hope Solo is "crushed" by the loss of her pet dog after he was shot in North Carolina.

On Thursday, May 14, 2020, the athlete revealed Conan, one of five dobermans she owned with husband Jerramy Stevens, was in a "critical condition" after suffering a severe injury in what she described as a "heinous act."

She didn't detail the circumstances around the shooting, but suggested her pooch may need a prosthetic limb if he managed to pull through.

Unfortunately, Solo returned to social media on Saturday to provide a sad update with followers. "We're brokenhearted to share that Conan passed away from blood loss last night," she posted on Instagram, alongside a snap of the dog. "He fought up until the very end. We're crushed."

The goalkeeper then indicated Conan hadn't been far from the couple's expansive property when he was targeted.

"Just a dog running through the woods, trying to make his way home," Solo continued. "We bought 60 acres so our dogs have space to run and live their most full lives. Conan was kind and loving."

"As animal lovers we are struggling to make sense of anyone using their right to own guns to shoot pets of any kind."

It's not clear if the incident has been reported to authorities.