Dog shot, bullet lodged in windpipe - Mason Neck, VA

Monday, Apr 30, 2001

A 7-year old chocolate Laborador retriever was found lying on the Mason Neck shoreline. When she was found by Chris and Craig Gudikunst, they talked about burying the corpse. After Craig nudged her with a stick, they discovered she was barely alive.

The dog had been too weak to move and kept herself alive by eating dead fish, choking them back up when the sharp bones lodged in her throat.

The dog was quickly taken to a Springfield veterinary clinic where she was treated for dehydration, anemia, and serious infections. Surgery was performed to remove a litter of skeletonized puppies from her womb and fish bones from her stomach and colon.

About one week later after taking an x-ray, it was determined a bullet was lodged in her windpipe. She had been shot in the temple at close range, veterinarians said, the bullet traveled down to her vocal chords and breaking in two.

The dog did not have any identification on her, so she was given the name "Milagros, " Spanish for miracles, which has been shortened to Mila.

Jonathan and Susan Harrison along with their children are caring for Mila. Mila has near crippling arthiritis, her bark is like a frog's croak, possibly because the bullet is still lodged in her throat.

She has gained about 15 pounds and eagerly follows Jonathan Harrison around, tail wagging furiously clearing having bonded with the man who carried her and helped spoon feed her during her early recovery.

The family's 2-1/2 year old Great Dane, Bandit, watches over the ailing newcomer.

Rescuers speculate that either her owner got tired of her or someone saw her scavenging and shot her.

References

• The Washington Post - Jun 20, 2001

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