Dog Survives 2 Shots to Head

is helping a dog recover after she was shot twice in the head and tossed to the curb in a plastic garbage bag.

DeKalb County animal control officers brought Cindy to the animal hospital on College Avenue July 19. According to Meeka Parrish, DeKalb police spokeswoman, the owner shot the dog twice in the head because she used the bathroom in the house.

Thinking Cindy was dead, the man put her into a bag with the rest of the household garbage, Parrish said.

"The trash was out at the curb waiting for pickup," Parrish said.

But Cindy was alive and some women walking by heard her whimpering, Parrish said. They called authorities.

"She was pretty shaky when she came in," said Callie Mizell, one of the veterinarians at the animal hospital. "She was weak and didn't want to stand up. She had blood all over her."

X-rays showed bullet fragments in Cindy's head, but the vets decided against doing surgery. Her jaw was broken she could only eat soft food and liquids. The Chow mix improved rapidly.

"She's eating regular food now," Mizell said. "She's doing great. She seems comfortable."

Meanwhile, DeKalb police kept investigating the case and filed felony charges against Cindy's owner, Christopher Woods of Ponce de Leon Avenue, Parrish said. He was released from jail under $10,000 bond.

Scott Zimmerman, the practice manager at Dearborn, said Cindy is about 6 years old. She gets along well with most humans and dogs, he said, and will be put up for adoption after she recovers.

"It will take the right person, the right family," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman said animal control brings a badly injured animal to Dearborn every few months. "We make it our policy -- if the animal needs care we give it," he said.

Anybody who wants to help pay Cindy's vet bill can go to www.dearbornanimalhospital.com.