TAMPA, Fla. — A dog that was shot and tied to railroad tracks is recovering after undergoing an amputation in Tampa, and police are searching for its abuser.
Police in Tampa received three calls reporting gunshots Wednesday evening, and as they canvassed the area, they heard a dog whimpering. They found the animal with gunshot wounds in the neck and right shoulder, tied to the tracks with a belt.
"We heard about six gunshots. Maybe after the second one we heard a dog start crying behind it," said witness Shamika Turner.
The dog is a mixed-breed female, believed to be one or two years old. Officers have named her Cabela.
The animal was rushed to a veterinary center. Officer Derek Lang said she underwent surgery Thursday morning to amputate her injured right front leg, and Cabela is expected to survive.
"Ultimate goal? Whoever did this needs to go to jail," said Greg Koller of the Tampa Police Department.
The reward to find Cabela's abuser has grown to $5,000.
She is scheduled to have surgery this week.