Dog Recovering After Hit By Car, Shot Twice
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FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- A dog found shot and neglected is getting some desperately needed care thanks to a South Florida rescue group, but those rescuers say there are many more dogs like her and the problem is getting worse.
The two-year-old American bulldog named Valentine was found Valentine's night near the rural area of homestead. The rescue organization 100+ Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida received a call about her and went to pick her up.
"Valentine was shot twice and then went to get up and got hit by a car," explained Amy Roman with the rescue. "We drove out to the middle of nowhere by 11:30 we had her in our car screaming in pain."
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Rescuers rushed her to Lauderdale Veterinary Specialists, a 24 hour emergency animal hospital in Fort Lauderdale. Rescuers say an X-ray shows a bullet fragment near Valentine's spine. The two year old dog had a broken hip and is covered in scars. After surgery she's recovering, but her story is all too common.
"It's getting worse daily. We are exhausted physically and mentally," said Roman. She said the rescue group picked up 32 dogs last month alone and has vet bills of more than $40,000. She says many of the dogs come from the Redland and the Homestead area.
"It's getting worse. This is not economy this is a mentality war. It's like the wild wild West out here in rural Miami. I don't know what they're going to do, but something has to be done. The local rescues are drained, physically drained. There's no money."
Roman says Valentine isn't the only dog the group has rescued who has been shot fortunately for her, she is expected to make a full recovery.
Valentine is looking for a foster home and will eventually need a permanent adoptive home.
For more information you can go to 100plusabandoneddogsofevergladesflorida.org, their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.