Did Man Find Dog with Arrow in Head, or Did Pooch Find Him?

A Michigan man allegedly shot his dog through the head with an arrow because she had been aggressive toward his other dog and had been difficult to housebreak. (Screenshot via WDIV-TV)

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The Detroit Free Press has the backstory of the Lake Orion man who found Gemma, the black lab that wandered for two days with an arrow through her head after allegedly being shot with a crossbow and left to die by her owner, who claimed the dog was aggressive.

Jim O’Dell, 54, told the newspaper he was renovating a home in Lapeer County and saw Gemma sitting patiently in the driveway on the morning of March 30, as if she was waiting for his or one of his employees to arrive at the job site on North Branch.

His first thought was that it was a joke, something along the lines of that old Steve Martin comedy bit where he’s got a fake arrow through his head.

But then he looked into Gemma’s sad eyes, saw the drool of genuine distress and considered the hand of fate might have brought them together that day.

“This is real, you know, and we went up to her,” O’Dell told the newspaper. “It was like she was waiting for us to get there. She was waiting for us. Of all the places she could have gone, she waited at that spot.”

O’Dell said he was profoundly affected by the experience and may consider adopting Gemma if that becomes an option.

» You can read more about how the Gemma and the man who rescued her have bonded on the Detroit Free Press.

How You Can Help Gemma

As Gemma recovers from the injuries caused by the arrow, which lodged millimeters from the optic nerve and brain, authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident. Charges have not yet been filed against the 28-year-old Goodland Township man who allegedly shot the dog because she was reportedly aggressive toward his other dog, a pug, and was difficult to housebreak.

Related:

• Dog Wanders Michigan for 2 Days with Arrow in Her Head

Authorities also said a search of the owner’s property turn up another dog. And Lapeer County animal control officers have said Gemma hasn’t shown any signs of aggression while in their care.

Their goal is for the dog’s owner to voluntarily surrender ownership, Lapeer County Animal Control Officer Aimee Orn told MLive.com.

If that doesn’t happen, Gemma will be held as evidence and ownership will be established in court.

Until ownership is established, Gemma continues to receive care at the expense of Lapeer County taxpayers through the county animal control budget. If you’d like to help care for Gemma:

• Email Aimee Orn, chief animal control officer, at aorn@lapeercounty.org
• Call (810) 667-0236
• Send a check payable to Lapeer County Animal Control, 2396 W. Genesee, Lapeer, MI 48446