Stray dog shot in face needs $4K in vet care

Mr. Biggs was found injured on the side of a road in Commercial Township. Watch video

MILLVILLE -- They call him Mr. Biggs. A stray pit bull that was found on the side of the road in Commercial Township earlier this month.

Mr. Biggs was a friendly dog but was visibly injured with a head wound and he had difficulty walking. When Millville-based TLC Animal Rescue took him to the animal hospital, X-rays showed bullets still lodged in his head and leg.

"We had no idea the extent of his injuries," said Shelly Denhardt, vice president of TLC Animal Rescue. "He wasn't walking on his hind leg but we had no idea. At first we thought he was probably hit by a car. We had no idea he was shot or to the extent his leg was shattered."

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TLC Animal Rescue is raising money to take Mr. Biggs to an orthopedic surgeon in Red Bank, hoping to save the pit bull's leg from being amputated. The animal group was hoping that putting pins in Mr. Biggs' leg would help him but the surgery will instead require a plate. The surgery for his leg is estimated to cost $4,000.

"We were just shocked and hysterically crying," Denhardt said. "It was just unbelievable news for such a sweet dog."

A volunteer for TLC Animal Rescue was driving in the area of Main Street and Strawberry Avenue in Commercial Township on May 2 when she spotted Mr. Biggs laying on the side of the road. They took Mr. Biggs to the Cumberland County SPCA and picked him up a week later, which is the required protocol for strays that are found. Mr. Biggs is now staying at the TLC Animal Rescue. He was named after the volunteer who helped rescue him.

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Due to his injuries, rescue workers believe that he was used as a fighting dog. The workers are unsure if he was shot and then dumped or shot in the woods but, either way, Mr. Biggs ended up injured on the side of the road waiting for rescue.

"We've certainly rescued dogs that have had scars, have been under weight and have been severely mistreated but we have never had a case where a dog has been this abused," Denhardt said.

Mr. Biggs' abuse is under investigation. Once he is healed, he will be put up for adoption by TLC Animal Rescue. In order to pay for the operations, the animal rescue group is collection donations and organizing fundraisers.

For more information about donating money, visit www.tlcarescue.com/info/donate or Paypal: tlcarescue@hotmail.com.