An armed intruder entered an Oxnard home yesterday afternoon -- he left without any loot, but shot the family dog on his way out!

The Daily News reports that the would-be burglar first knocked on the front door, but gained no access because the four children in the house (whose parents taught them well!) didn't recognize the man and didn't answer the door.

When he couldn't get in through the front door, the intruder broke in through the rear patio door and entered the home. After a brief spell during which the intruder decided (we still can't sort out why) there was nothing worth taking, he left.

It is unclear why the intruder shot the 7-year-old white German shepherd named Zack on his way out. We'd guess that Zack was trying to protect his family from a dangerous man.

Luckily, the four children, ages 11 to 16, hid in an adjacent room during the break-in and were unharmed during the incident.

Photo by anticline via Flickr