Dog shot in head and left to die, “loyal friend” refused to leave her side

Animal rescuers have saved a dog who was shot and left for dead, as well as her “loyal friend” who refused to leave her side.

It was a horrifying sight for rescuers when they found Reed, presumed to be a stray dog, who was covered in blood after being shot in the head. She was found in a rural area of Williamson County, Texas, alongside her “loyal friend,” Wiley, who managed to avoid being shot but stayed by Reed’s side until they were rescued.

Both dogs were taken to a local shelter before being transferred to Big Fluffy Dog Rescue founded by Jean Harrison. It was undoubtedly devastating for Harrison to learn about what they had been through, telling Newsweek that “Reed is the embodiment of what happens to unwanted dogs.”

Harrison, of Nashville, Tennessee, said: “Reed was probably looking for food in a place a farmer didn’t want her to be looking for food. This does not have the look or feel of a close-range execution attempt. This is more in line with what we see from dogs shot at a distance that a farmer feels is too close to livestock.

“They are both very thin, consistent with being on their own a while. Reed had blood on her head and neck area with some obvious bullet entrance wounds.”

Both dogs are said to be doing well since they were rescued in early June. Riley has undergone surgery already and will need another one to remove bullet fragments. Not to mention, both dogs need to gain plenty of weight, which Harrison says is “just a matter of time and care.”

Fortunately, they are both expected to make a full recovery.

“Gunshot cases are not uncommon for us, and we have both the experience and the resources to handle them. This was the second gunshot case of the week for us, and we are very tired of the solution for unwanted dogs in rural areas being at the end of a gun. At the root of all of this is someone who abandoned a dog,” Harrison said.

It’s notable that both dogs are very aware of each other’s absence. The rescue organization is holding them together as much as possible, and if it seems like the right decision, they will remain together.

In some cases, dogs may not necessarily be bonded through affection, but rather through a trauma bond. So, over time, the team at Big Fluffy Dog Rescue will assess whether Reed and Wiley need each other, or whether they’d prefer space.

They are both seemingly quite shy and wary of people—understandably so—but Harrison tells Newsweek that they will make “outstanding pets” one day.

The rescue shared a post on Facebook detailing what the dogs had been through, alongside a picture of Reed’s blood-stained face. The post went viral with over 14,000 reactions and has been shared over 2,700 times already.

The online response has been incredible, leaving Harrison inundated with emails about them.

“We see cases like this regularly and I am not sure why these two specifically captured everyone’s imagination, but they are rockstars for sure now,” she said.

“At the root of most of these cases, there’s an irresponsible human. When you take on a dog, you take on a responsibility that is for the life of the dog. Housing circumstances change, lifestyles change, jobs come and go, and so do spouses, but you are responsible for the dog no matter how much your life changes. Abandoned dogs overwhelmingly die from being hit by cars, gunshot, starvation and predation.”

In just a matter of days, the Facebook post about Reed and Wiley has gained over 1,200 comments. Many social media users were left horrified and distraught by what these two dogs have gone through.

One comment reads: “So grateful that they are both safe, they must stay together.”

Another Facebook user wrote: “No words…nothing I could write expresses my anger and sadness. So glad they are safe now.”

Another person replied: “I hope someone can take them together. They deserve that.”

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