DOG FOUND SHOT NEAR VIEJAS IN ALPINE

 Authorities seek info on shooter; owner found but relinquishes dog

February 21, 2012 (Alpine)—A dog found lying on the side of Viejas Grade Road  near Willows Road in Alpine with a bullet in its chest remains in extremely serious condition following surgery.  The 40-pound retriever mix was found by a passerby and a Viejas firefighter yesterday morning around 7:30 a.m.

“It’s very disturbing to treat an animal so cruelly and to hurt a defenseless animal,” Lt. Harold Holmes with the San Diego County Animal Services told ECM news partner 10 News.

A bullet passed through the dog’s chest and punctured his lung.  The injured animal survived surgery but remains in "critical but stable" at the Kroc Copley Animal Center in Mission Valley, Lt. Daniel DeSousa with the County Department of Animal Services told East County Magazine late today.

"We have located the owner," he said, but added, "The owner has relinquished the animal to Animal Services.  We are going to do everything we can to save the dog," he said.

Lt. DeSousa said the owner, who lives on the Viejas Reservation, did not have a fenced yard and cannot afford the medical care costs for the dog.  A positive identification was made after the owner sent photos and came to view her pet.

"This dog is going to rqeuire a massive amount of care," said DeSousa, who offered one good bit of news to report.  "The veterinary hospital today was reducing the oxygen level in its cage to see how well it will do on its own."

Whoever shot the dog could face felony animal cruelty charges if located. The circumstances of the shooting remain unknown.  DeSousa said Viejas security indicated the dog had been seen running loose for a couple of weeks. 

Dog shootings are extremely rare in San Diego County, according to DeSousa. 

This is not the first case of animal cruelty in Alpine.  “My Mom worked at the Viejas Casino years ago when they first built it and she was a security guared,” said Angela Brookshire, director of the Alpine Community Network.  “She said one time they found a dog that had a pitch fork stuck through him!” They took him to the vet and he survived,” she added.

Surgery for the dog found shot has been paid for by the San Diego County Animal Services Spirit Fund.  Donations may be made at http://www.sddac.com/donations.asp .