Max, a 2-year-old Labrador/Rottweiler hybrid, was recently taken outside his family home, shot twice in the face with a shotgun, and left to die. Who committed this terrible act of cruelty? It is the person that Max looks to for food, affection and attention. Thankfully, Max was seen, rescued, and is recovering. What we do know about this event shows how impulsive actions can lead to pain, suffering, and punishment.
Max and the shooter’s three-year-old daughter
Cody Deel is 28 years old and lives in Ripley, Jackson County, West Virginia. While he was away, Max and Deel’s three-year-old daughter got into a melee. According to the report, Max got into the trash and the kid tried to take a piece of trash away from the dog.
During this struggle, Max bit the child. Court records say The child appears to have a small puncture wound on the underside of his left arm, a bruise, a scratch on the upper left arm, and a scratch on his upper chest. The baby was taken to the emergency room but is expected to be okay.
Deel went home and reacted immediately
Cody Deel was not at home when his daughter and Max scrambled to pick up trash, which resulted in the bite. Deel was interviewed when he filed a criminal complaint about cruelty to animals. In that reporthe pointed out that when he got home, he put Max on a leash, took him to a field behind their apartment complex and shot Max in the face once with a 20-round shotgun from 5 to 10 feet away. Max falls to the ground and Deel shoots the dog a second time. He then went back inside to check on his daughter’s injuries, leaving Max tied to the fence outside. According to the complaint, deputies asked Deel why he left Max outside to die and Deel replied, “I’ll bury it.”
The officers saw and rescued maximum
Someone passing by noticed Max tied to the fence. He managed to get himself tangled up and was clearly struggling and suffering. That passerby called the Humane Society to report what he had seen. Jackson County Sheriff, Jackson County Deputy Sheriff and Jackson County Humanitarian Officer Teresa Hager were called to the scene and rescued Max. The struggling animal was taken to the emergency vet and renamed Fisher after the Sheriff of the Rescue.
Fisher is recovering and preparing for adoption
Fisher had to have a tooth amputated and has a jaw full of bird marks from a shotgun. Humanitarian social worker Hager told WSAZ3 details of Fisher’s wound. “He had a hole through his cheek,” Hager said. “The shell shot out and ripped his teeth and broke his teeth and then all the shots hit the bottom of his jaw. It’s actually infected. He’s on antibiotics and painkillers because he has a large protruding jaw. “
Fisher is recovering at the Jackson County Animal Shelter and has received loads of interest from people wanting to bring him home to give him a new family and new life. He will need a few weeks to recuperate and be evaluated before he can be officially put up for adoption.
UPDATE:
After many months, Fisher has finally found a home of his own with someone who will truly care for him the way he deserves!
“We all had happy tears today. Our Fisher was adopted today. If anyone remembers Fisher, he was the one who was shot in the face by its owner. This boy is so happy. Thank you Ed McCoy for saving these big boys’ lives.”
H / BILLION WSAZ.com
Featured image Jackson County Animal Shelter / Facebook
