Update as of Thursday, February 23, 2012: Chance continues to improve. He is no longer in an oxygen chamber and is eating and drinking on his own. Chance was even trying to climb in the laps of the veterinary staff. Next Step: new x-rays will be taken to check his lungs. If all looks good, Chance will likely be moved to the Gaines Street shelter by week's end. (This information has been provided by Lt. Daniel DeSousa of the Department of Animal Services)
SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – A dog found on the side of an East County road with a gunshot wound has been upgraded from critical to serious condition Wednesday.
A bullet went through the retriever mix's chest, leaving him fighting for his life.
Melissa Alto was recovering from surgery when the text messages started coming in that her dog's on the news, and he's been shot.
"I'm thinking no, no, you got the wrong dog, it's not mine," Alto said.
Jersey was found Monday on the Viejas Reservation and rushed to an animal hospital in critical condition. Two days later, his condition has been upgraded to serious.
"The dog's much more alert. The dog was up when our staff looked at it, the dogs been eating. So all those things are very good signs saying the dog's feeling better," Lt. Daniel DeSousa of the Department of Animal Services said.
DeSousa says the investigation into who shot the dog continues. So far, there are no suspects. Alto is also at a loss.
"Why would you want to hurt my dog for? Innocent dog, good dog, and he's beautiful. I just don't understand, myself," she said.
Alto has raised the golden retriever-husky mix since he was born in November 2010, but on Tuesday she made the tough decision to relinquish the dog to the county.
"If I bring him back home and someone sees him, they might hurt him again, and this time he might not be able to survive. So I dug deep inside of me and just had to think about Jersey and what was better for him," she said.
The county has renamed him Chance.
"We're giving him a second chance at life," DeSousa said.
And they're hoping he can recover to the point where he can be adopted. Melissa says she and Jersey's brother Daygo already miss him very much.
"I just hope Jersey grows old and lives a happy life, and I would love to see him again when he's adopted. I just hope you send me pictures, let me know he's OK," Alto said.
If you would like to help Chance, you can donate to the County's Department of Animal Services Spirit Fund, which is covering Chance's medical expenses.
News 8 received this updated photo of Chance Wednesday, February 22, 2012. Chance’s condition has been upgraded from critical to serious.
Chance is improving and is now eating and drinking on his own. He is seen here in this updated photo given to News 8 Thursday, February 23, 2012.
