Animal rescue seeks shooter after finding dog with 2 bullet wounds

Animal rescue seeks shooter after finding dog with 2 bullet wounds

(Courtesy of Rescue Rovers Dog Adoption)


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SANPETE COUNTY — A Sanpete County animal rescue is asking for the public’s help in locating those responsible for shooting a dog that had just given birth.

A chocolate lab was found Monday in the foothills of Sanpete County with two gunshot wounds in the head, according to Wag-N-Train Dog Rescue co-founder Jamee Wheelwright. A man was hunting for antler sheds when he located the wounded animal, Wheelwright said.

The dog, who rescuers named Karma, was taken a local animal control officer and was later transported to the emergency center at Payson Family Pet Hospital.

“(The veterinarians) did a radiography on her and determined that she had been shot in the head twice, probably from a .22,” Wheelwright said. “Once in the front of the head, in the forehead, and once in the very back of the head. And she had recently had puppies, just within the last few days probably.”

Wheelwright said one of the bullets was still lodged in the dog’s skull, and the vets felt it was “prudent not to remove it.” Karma had a violent seizure after being admitted to the pet hospital, but has made a miraculous recovery and could possibly be released Friday, Wheelwright said.

“She does seem to have some neurological issues, some coordination problems with her legs, and when she walks she turns and kind of circles to the right,” Wheelwright said. “She is blind in one eye. The blindness and neurological issues may or may not change. It will just take time to tell that.”

When Karma is released from the Payson Family Pet Hospital, Wheelwright said she will be transported to the Rescue Rovers Dog Adoption agency where she’ll be matched with a foster family during her recovery. She wasn’t wearing a collar or any identifying tags when she was found.


In our rural areas, dogs can be targets if they are into any stock or farm animals of any kind. But she was found a good distance away in a remote area in the foothills. There were no sheep or stock in that area that anyone saw. And it's highly unlikely that a dog who just recently had puppies would be wandering off that far to chase stock.

–Jamee Wheelwright, Wag-N-Train Dog Rescue co-founder


Wheelwright said the shooting of domestic animals in rural Utah communities is not uncommon, but it’s usually triggered by the animal getting into livestock, which she doesn’t believe was the case with Karma.

“In our rural areas, dogs can be targets if they are into any stock or farm animals of any kind,” she said. “But she was found a good distance away in a remote area in the foothills. There were no sheep or stock in that area that anyone saw. And it’s highly unlikely that a dog who just recently had puppies would be wandering off that far to chase stock.”

A group of volunteers went into the area where Karma was found to try and locate the puppies, but they were unsuccessful in finding them, Wheelwright said. Wag-N-Train Dog Rescue is also asking for the public’s help in locating the person responsible for shooting and abandoning Karma.

“We know that there are correlations between animal abuse and abuse towards people,” Wheelwright said. “So it’s really important that we try to find whoever did this. And also, we want to really underline the fact that if this dog was not wanted and she was (almost) killed because they didn’t want to deal with those puppies, there are resources for that. People need to know that there are groups out there who want to help.”

A fundraising account* was set up to help pay for Karma’s medical costs, and as of Thursday evening, it had raised more than $1,900. Wheelwright said any excess money would go towards the Rescue Rovers Dog Adoption agency who would be caring for Karma.

Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Wag-N-Train Dog Rescue at 435-851-9807 or the Sanpete County Sheriff's Office at 435-835-2191.


*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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Faith Heaton Jolley

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