State police are investigating a possible case of animal cruelty after neighbors say a beloved Oregon goose was shot multiple times with BB pellets.

The goose christened Princess Collette, who had become a local celebrity in Lake Oswego, Oregon - died from gunshot wounds on Tuesday, after what neighbors believe was a deliberate BB attack.

Collette's sudden and gruesome death comes as a particular shock to neighbors and avian enthusiast Della Shanley who knew Collette well and had spent months caring for her.

'I loved her seriously. We all loved her,' a grief-stricken Shanley told KOIN of her beloved feathered friend.

Her bond with the birds became so strong that she created an online page called 'Fowl Relationships on Oswego Lake' to share the moments she had captured with the wildlife she had come to know.

But one familiar face is suddenly now missing.

Last week, Collette returned alone to Shanley’s dock, injured and struggling to use her right wing after what residents believe was a deliberate attack.

Shanley rushed to get help, taking Collette to veterinarian Lisa Harrenstien, a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine at Tanasbourne Veterinary, expecting they would find an illness or accidental injury.

Instead, X-rays revealed a heartbreaking discovery.

'That’s when we discovered that she had been shot several times,' Shanley said.

The discovery transformed a troubling injury into a suspected act of cruelty, leaving residents devastated that a goose they had watched return every spring and was a part of their community could have been deliberately targeted. 

'I can’t imagine why a person would do that,' Shanley lamented.

Tragically, despite her best efforts to save her, Collette died Tuesday.

Yet, this was not Collette’s first fight for survival.

Veterinarians said she had already suffered multiple previous injuries, including enduring fractures, and prevailed, managing to raise goslings and return to the lake year after year.

For Shanley, the loss has only strengthened her determination to protect the wildlife she has spent years looking after.  

'So my mission was to save Collette. My mission now is to stop this cruelty,' she declared. 

Now, those who cared for Collette hope her story will encourage anyone with information about the alleged shooting to come forward and remind anyone there are humane ways to handle conflicts with animals.

The incident has also renewed warnings about the dangers posed by BB guns, which are often mistaken for harmless toys despite being capable of inflicting devastating injuries. 

Wildlife experts say the pellets can penetrate flesh, damage organs and leave animals to suffer slow, painful deaths if they are not rescued.

In the United States, geese are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

State police said shooting a goose outside hunting season, especially with a prohibited weapon like a BB gun, could lead to criminal charges, including hunting within city limits.

Authorities continue to investigate who is responsible for Collette's death. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Oregon police for comment.