ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- A 19-pound family dog was shot in its back yard Thursday, Royal Oak police said.

Police said a homeowner in the 4600 block of Rosewold Avenue was working in his garage around 1:30 p.m. when he heard his Lhasa Apso, which was in the fenced-in back yard, growl. Then he heard a shot fired.

Watch: Gunman Shoots Family Dog

"I heard pow, and then I head yip,yip," said homeowner James Roy. "The bullet had gone into his spine. You could see blood coming out of his back."

Roy chased the shooter to 14 Mile, but then stopped. He described the shooter as a white man in his 40s. The man was wearing a blue hat, a USA flag-type jacket with stars on the back and jeans.

Roy said he is sure he has seen the man's jacket in the neighborhood.

"That's the thing that puzzles me. Did he just deliberately come up and shoot our dog?" said Roy's wife, Barbara Roy.

Five-year-old Lambo did survive the shooting, but he may be paralyzed.

"I am just devastated. It's a wait and see game if he'll be able to walk again," Barbara Roy said she can't help but wonder if Lambo tried to defend their home.

"Maybe he was going to come in and do some harm and rob our house," said Barbara Roy.

Police said the .22 caliber bullet that hit the dog came from a gun that was recently stolen from a home nearby.

"Get this guy off the street," said James Roy. " Not only did he shoot our dog, he could shoot someone else."

Anyone with information is asked to call Royal Oak police at 248-246-3500.