Caged dog shot in the head Fort Pierce, FL (US) Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 14, 2006 County: Saint Lucie Local Map: available Disposition: Open Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case ID: 10416 Classification: Shooting Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Animal was offleash or loose Reward: $500 Login to Watch this Case

A dog shot in the head and left to die along a county road last week is recovering locally and may be ready for adoption in two to three weeks, said Frank Andrews, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County.

An anonymous donor meanwhile has put up $500 leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter, Andrews said.

"This Blitzen has a lot of strikes against her," Andrews said today. "But somehow there's a guardian angel that always comes forward."

Blitzen is a 6- or 7-year-old female Labrador mix who was shot in the head and found Dec. 14 in a wire cage along Taylor Dairy Road west of Fort Pierce.

Andrews said veterinarians at Tri-County Animal Hospital in Fort Pierce removed large bullet fragments from her head though she may be suffering from lead poisoning. Blitzen also faces treatment for heartworm, a preventable but potentially fatal disease caused by a parasite that shuts down an animal's heart.

Blitzen is taking heavy doses of antibiotics and, when strong enough, will begin another medical treatment for the heartworms. Andrews described the black dog as "weak but stable" and said she likes to wag her tail.

"The good thing is she's eating," Andrews said. "That's the big thing and the prognosis is favorable."

The Humane Society has fielded numerous calls from people offering to adopt the recovering pooch and Andrews said already good candidates have been found. Still, the center faces medical bills for Blitzen that will stretch into the thousands of dollars.

A special fund has been set up to help defray the cost of Blitzen's hospitalization and extended care. Donations can be made by phone at (772) 461-0687; by mail to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, P.O. Box 3661, Fort Pierce, FL 34948; or at www.hsslc.org online.

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TCPalm - Dec 22, 2006

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