WESTERLO -- Police are trying to figure out who's responsible for shooting two family pets in rural Albany County.

A chocolate lab and an Alaskan malamute were found shot to death over the weekend, one mile up a hiking trail off Cole Hill Toad in Partridge Run Park in the Town of Westerlo.

Police do not know if they were shot there or just dumped, but four shotgun shells were found near the bodies.

The animals' owner tells NEWS10 she let the dogs out Saturday morning and they never returned.

She says they were very friendly, family oriented dogs and the loss of her pets is very upsetting news.

The dogs' bodies have been taken to a state lab for a necropsy that will be performed by wildlife pathologist Ward Stone, scheduled for Tuesday.

Albany County Undersheriff Craig Apple, with the Albany County Sheriff's Department, calls the case very bizarre.