Update: Police Rescue Dog Shot Twice

When the Tampa Police Department received three separate calls about shots fired in the Sulphur Springs community Wednesday evening, they weren’t sure what they’d find when they arrived at the scene.

About 100 feet north of Eskimo Drive, officers found the target of those shots residents heard just before 5:30 p.m. A female mixed breed dog was found tied to the railroad tracks with a belt, suffering from two gunshot wounds.

Cabela, as she’s since been named by officers, was struck once in the neck and once above the right shoulder. Alive, but bleeding, the dog, is estimated to be about 1 to 2 years old.

“Officers Nick Wilson and Sgt. R. Mills worked to free the dog from the railroad tracks,” the department wrote in an email to media. Once free, the creature was rushed to the Tampa Bay Veterinary Emergency Center on Bearss Avenue for care.

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Now under the watchful eye of Dr. Jamie Davidson, Cabela is expected to survive. Doctors have performed surgery on Cabela and were able to save her leg, TBO is reporting.

As Cabela recovers, police have turned their attention to finding the person or people responsible for her shooting. Anyone with information in the case or who might know the dog’s owner is asked to call the department at 813-231-6130. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

It is unclear at this time if any fundraisers are being staged to help offset the cost of the dog’s care.

This is the second time in recent weeks a dog has been shot in the Bay area. In the first case, Legend, a bullmastiff mix, took two bullets while trying to defend his family during a home invasion. Legend survived that attack and was back at home at last report.

Photo of Senior Sgt. R. Mills, a 20-year Tampa police veteran, with Cabela courtesy of the Tampa Police Department.

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Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:48 p.m. March 6.