Rusty, an Akita mix was shot twice in the right front leg sometime between June 10th. and June 14th. A wonderful woman who lives in east Thousand Palms noticed him wandering around her property. She started leaving food out for him, thinking he had a broken leg. It took almost 6 weeks to get a leash on him! He was so scared. That was the summer that it hit 121 degrees several times, so he is a real survivor. She called Save-A-Pet about the hurt animal.
As a matter of policy for the safety of our volunteers, Save-A-Pet does not come out to pick up stray animals. However, the woman was told if she could get him on a leash, Save-A-Pet would come out to rescue the dog. She called us early one morning and said she did have him on a leash, and Save-A-Pet volunteers came out to pick him up.
Upon arrival, the Save-A-Pet volunteers noticed the dog was not walking on his right leg and loaded him in a carrier and was brought to our facility. He was given antibiotics as soon as he arrived, and an appointment was made immediately for our vet to see him.
Upon our vets examination, he discovered the dog had been shot twice in the right leg with a high caliber weapon. As a result of his injury, the leg was shattered and there was no chance to save it. The leg and part of his shoulder were amputated and he returned to Save-A-Pet the same day to recuperate.
He was given the name Rusty by the woman who found him, and has been staying at one of our volunteers home to recuperate.
Rusty now lives with one of our volunteers. Since his surgery, he has fully recovered, runs and plays with the other dogs and loves people. Rusty is no longer a Special Needs dog. He chases wild rabbits like he still had 4 legs, and jumped a 4 foot barbed wire fence once trying to chase one! He loves people, in spite of what was done to him by a human.
