Shedlow, with five dogs in tow, came upon a Mastiff dog chained to a tree.
She couldn't get too close, with so many curious dogs in her charge, so she called a friend for help. Another dog walker joined her and called police.
Patrolman Marty Block responded, approached the stoic dog and discovered blood and bullet wounds.
"No," Shedlow said. "Who would do such a thing?"
But the officer was right. Someone had shot the big dog in the chest and jaw. He called a kennel worker, who drove the injured dog to The Family Pet Clinic in Garfield Heights.
"He was in the early stages of shock, but he's as lucky as he can get," said veterinarian Rick Thompson.
One bullet entered through the dog's shoulder and lodged in a chest muscle. The other bullet injured the dog's tongue, then broke into pieces when it hit the lower jaw bone, which didn't break.
Thompson also found apparent bite marks on the dog's face and an ear. "Someone may have broken up a dog fight using a gun," Thompson said.
Once the dog recovered from surgery, he was taken to the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter, then transferred to a foster home for the Public Animal Welfare Society.
"The gentle giant is doing well," PAWS director Amy Beichler said. "I would love for the public to help us give the dog a name."
(Plain Dealer - Nov 29, 2012)