A dog in California, who was shot in Watsonville, is looking for a new home, reports KSBW News. Oso, a one-and-a-half-year-old Akita-Shepherd mix, had his leg amputated following the tragic incident after Christmas last month. He is currently in the care of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
Homeless dog sustained gunshot wound, requiring leg amputation
The shelter put up a Facebook post wherein they shared that Oso was found in the Watsonville levee, shot in the chest, a couple of days after Christmas. At the time of the shooting, the canine was living in a homeless tent encampment.
The shelter said the canine “had sustained a gunshot wound that entered at the front of his shoulder and completely shattered his large humerus bone.” Continuing, they shared, “The only possible course was to amputate his right front leg,” making the Akita-Shepherd mix a tripod or three-legged dog.
His owners later surrendered him since his “treatment was extensive and the recovery process would be long.” After a successful surgery, the canine has been recovering well.
Watsonville dog needs ‘supportive home’ after recovering from surgery
The organization further wrote they’re looking to find Oso “the right supportive home.” They also added, “Oso’s story can serve as a powerful testament to the resilience of animals.”
“We are actively seeking a special adopter who can offer Oso the understanding, patience, and commitment he needs,” the shelter continued.
“He will just need regular walks around the neighborhood,” Amber Rowland, General Manager of Animal Services in Santa Cruz County, told KSBW News. “And maybe a little play time in a yard.”
Rowland added that Oso prefers a home with not a lot of stairs. She also said the pup tends to get along well with other dogs, sharing, “He seems interested in other dogs, and he has lived with other dogs in the past.”
She further described him as “a kind of a couch potato” who “looks out for his people and gets to know his family and friends.”
Michelle Pulido, a spokeswoman for the city of Watsonville, said authorities are currently investigating the shooting. At this point, it’s not clear who the shooter’s target was.
