MISSOULA — Authorities are looking for answers about a veteran's service dog that was found with gunshots wounds after he was reported missing.
Missoula Animal Control received a call for what they initially thought to be a stray dog wandering around Cote Lane on Wednesday evening.
“When he was picked up by the officer, she found that he was injured,” said Missoula County Animal Control Officer Cassidy Russell. “They ended up bringing him to Missoula Vet and discovered he had three gunshot wounds.”
The dog was shot once in the shoulder and twice to the head, and needed surgery to remove a bullet from his face.
Fortunately, he’s microchipped, and Missoula Animal Control was able to locate the shelter where he had been adopted. They later learned that the dog, named Lucca, is the service dog for a veteran who lives in the area.
Missoula Animal Control posted on Facebook: "Lucca is a service dog for a local Veteran. He was selected from a local shelter and trained by Braach’s Shepherds 4 Veterans to meet his owners specific needs. Lucca went missing from his owner four days ago. At this time it is unknown who injured him or why he was found so far away from his home."
“He’s about two-years-old, he’s a German Shepherd, almost all black, and just the sweetest thing, really, through all of this he’s been so sweet and so loving. It’s amazing for what he’s been through that he still trusts everybody.”
Lucca will spend the next few days receiving follow up treatment for a remaining bullet lodged near his jaw. Animal Control is asking the community to come forward if they have any information regarding the circumstances leading to Lucca’s injuries.
“He went missing around 34th Street, and so he made it quite a ways away. We don’t know who did anything, we don’t know if someone took him from his home, we don’t know who shot him, we don’t know any of the circumstances, so if anyone has seen or heard of anything that can give us some insight then we can follow up on it,” said Russell.
If you would like to donate to help with expenses, click here for information on their Facebook page.
