Dog’s leg amputated after being shot, tied to train tracks

FLORIDA — A dog that was tied to railroad tracks and shot was expected to survive after her leg was amputated yesterday (March 5).

Tampa Police received three calls around 5.23 pm Wednesday from people reporting hearing gunshots. When they heard a dog whimpering while canvassing the neighbourhood, they followed the sound to nearby train tracks. They found the mixed-breed female dog, about a year or two old, fastened to the tracks with a belt, suffering from bullet wounds in its neck and right shoulder.

They alerted the train operator to halt any oncoming traffic as they got the dog off the track, then rushed her to a veterinarian. Bullet fragments were found throughout the dog’s body and led to the amputation of her right front leg, where multiple fragments were found. The dog was in stable condition yesterday.

“It’s very calm and relaxed and just in recovery mode at this point,” said Officer Derek Lang, a police spokesman.

None of the individuals who had called police had seen anyone with a gun or were aware of the dog being injured, police said, so they put out a public appeal for anyone with information to come forward and tips have flowed in. “All of the tips are leading officers in the right direction,” said Sergeant Gary Coller, one of the officers who responded to the incident.

The officers named the dog Cabela. AP