Champ, the German Shepherd

[Vinny]

No affiliations. Just a cool and sad story.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-champ-the-dog,0,2789359.story

Heroic Dog Shot 5 Times While Protecting His Family

LOS ANGELES-- "Champ" the four year old German Shepherd mix was shot and badly hurt while protecting his family's home, and was scheduled to be euthanized after weeks of being kept as evidence.

Now he needs help.

On February 27th, Champ was shot 5 times by an intruder as he tried to protect his owner's home in South Los Angeles, says Tiffany Norton of Coastal German Shepherd Rescue.

The shooter lodged several bullets in the dog's body, leaving Champ with a broken jaw bone, nerve problems, a bullet entry under his eye, and wounds covering his neck, shoulder, and abdomen.

Champ was kept as evidence while the intrusion case was pending, and was scheduled to be euthanized because his owners declined to get him the costly medical care he needed.

That's when Coastal German Shepherd Rescue stepped in.

The charity group picked Champ up Friday and transported him to their veterinarian team at Alicia Pet Care Center.

According to Norton, Champ is getting a "full body work up" and the organization will soon know what Champ's medical plan will be.

Veterinarians working on Champ say he is very lucky the bullets went through his body, and that he will likely not suffer any long term medical problems from the shooting.

Norton says that Champs medical bills are adding up and her organization is asking for help to save pay them.

Better yet, Coastal German Shepherd Rescue is looking for someone to adopt Champ and give him a good home after he recovers.

"It's gonna be a really special person who's gonna bring him into their home," Norton said. "Really right now, we're looking for someone with a big heart who wants to support Champ."

Volunteers for the charity organization say despite all he's been through, Champ is still a very sweet, calm, and collected dog who will "give his paw to all who would stop and give him a pet and a hello."

To foster, adopt, or donate to Champ's medical fund, please visit the Coastal German Shepherd Rescue's website at coastalgsr.org.

http://www.coastalgsr.org/

 

[SSN Vet]

mixed feelings....

Champ certainly lived up to his name...

Surely he suffered those four days....

"Kept as evidence" .... sounds like a brain dead decision to me

I have mixed feelings on spending thousands of dollars to "rescue" dogs and can't help but wonder if putting him down wouldn't have been the more humane thing to do.

 

[cchris]

I have mixed feelings on spending thousands of dollars to "rescue" dogs and can't help but wonder if putting him down wouldn't have been the more humane thing to do.

This opens up a whole new can of worms. You can start arguing the same logic about a person, whether it's "worth it" to keep someone alive who is near death. Who knows? This dog might save someone else's life one day. If he's on track to make a full recovery, it doesn't seem more "humane" to put him down.

 

[leadcounsel]

I donate a lot of money each year to animal charities.

I went to the website but had to stop reading. Hard for me to read/look at stories of animal neglect and abuse.

Donating to Champs cause is a worthy one and he is a hero and should be saved. I read that it looks like he's doing well and recovering. What kind of vicious thug could shoot a housedog like that??? Wonder what his sentence is/will be? Should be charged with at least B&E and animal abuse, both probably felonies.

 

[Officers'Wife]

My Grandfather claimed that the devil reserves the hottest part of hell for people that mistreat any animal. In the case of that 'intruder', Satan is doing a public service to mankind.