Family's horror as they find their beloved pet dog shot dead in pond

A South Carolina family has been left traumatized after their beloved dog was shot to death in a mystery slaying on Sunday. 

Tracy and JoAnn Luyster said their pet Ace was discovered with two gunshot wounds to the head in a retention pond close to their home in Myrtle Beach.

'My little buddy, I mean this dog had so much affection,' Tracy told WMBF News. 'He would literally sit with me and he would just hug you.' 

JoAnn said the incident had 'torn our family apart' in a heartbreaking Facebook post appealing for leads on who shot Ace, which showed a picture of the adorable mixed-breed dog with piebald white and tan fur.  

The Luysters said the tragedy unfolded after their three dogs escaped their home on Sunday morning when the automatic garage door was left open. 

A South Carolina family has been left traumatized after their beloved pet dog was shot to death in a mystery slaying on Sunday. (Pictured: Ace the slain dog) 

'They got out, I could see on our ring cameras, the two dogs, Ace and our littlest one, go out to the street,' Tracy told WMBF. 

Two of the dogs returned home on their own within a few hours, but Ace did not. The couple began a frantic search for their beloved pet. 

Later on Sunday they received a call from a resident who lived close by on Gravelly Shore Drive who said they had found Ace. 

'[He] says, 'Hey, do you have a dog named Ace?' I said 'Yes.' He goes, 'I found him.' So I'm thinking to myself, 'Great,'' Tracy recalled to WMBF. 

'He goes 'Well, it's not good.' I said 'What happened, did you hit him with a car or something?' He says 'I found him out in the middle of my pond.' 

Tracy and JoAnn Luyster said their dog Ace was discovered with two gunshot wounds to the head in a retention pond close to their home in Myrtle Beach

Adorable photographs shared by the couple show Ace cuddling Tracy

JoAnn appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact police or animal control, saying the tragedy had 'torn our family apart'

The Luysters said police had removed Ace's body from the pond by the time they got there. 

They were horrified to hear that he had suffered two visible gunshot wounds - one to the left side of his head and the other at the top-center region of his cranium. 

'Oh, I lost my mind. I couldn't fathom it. I couldn't figure out why, who in their right mind would ever do this,' Tracy told WMBF. 

Horry County Police Department said the shooter had used a small-caliber firearm. 

JoAnn appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact police or animal control.

'We appreciate any leads we can get,' she wrote on Facebook.

'I’m working with Horry County Animal Control and emailing every lead I have. Please help us find who tore our family apart.'

The Luysters said police had removed Ace's body from the pond by the time they got there

'My little buddy, I mean this dog had so much affection,' Tracy told WMBF News . 'He would literally sit with me and he would just hug you'

 'These days everyone has a camera,' she added while talking to WMBF. 

'If anyone has any footage, heard anything, has seen anything. 

'I mean, even if you don't want to reach out to us directly, please just call the police department or animal control.'

Adorable photographs shared by the couple show Ace cuddling Tracy, and selfies of JoAnn with the pet with their heads pressed together.