OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A dog shot during a home burglary is still in bad shape Wednesday night, according to his family. Meeko rests in the ICU of an animal hospital, where eventually vets think he’ll make a full recovery.
In Dr. Russell Cain’s Overland Park veterinary hospital, it’s not uncommon for one of his patients to have an emergency.
“I’ve done a lot of emergency work in the past, so it wasn’t anything outrageous, but you never really anticipate things like that,” said Cain.
But a dog getting shot? That’s rare, especially a dog like Meeko.
“He’s an amazing dog. He’s just a kind, gentle soul, wouldn’t hurt a fly,” said Dr. Cain.
Meeko is a therapy dog, his family describes him as a sweet, calm dog, and only protective when his “humans” are around. But Tuesday, whoever broke into his family’s home shot the Golden Retriever and Spaniel mix, presumably before stealing a bunch of their belongings.
Meeko stayed alert throughout the entire ordeal, even though his injuries were severe. This x-ray shows the path of the bullet through Meeko’s body, including the bits of shrapnel.
“He got shot right in the bridge of the nose, and so the bullet had passed right behind the nose through the hard pallet, into the tongue, through the tongue, and lodged onto the outside of the neck,” said Dr. Cain.
Dr. Cain says it’s truly amazing Meeko’s injuries didn’t kill him. Meeko’s family vows to find whoever did this to their beloved eight-year old family pet and get that person off the streets. If you know who burglarized the home in Overland Park and shot Meeko, call Overland Park police or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS.