Dog left for dead making remarkable recovery

A non-profit organization dedicated to providing a high quality of life for golden retrievers is seeking donations to cover the medical expenses of a dog shot twice and left for dead on a western Minnesota road.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: December 19, 2008 - 12:30 AM

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Orphan Annie, as members of Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM) have named the dog, is recovering in the intensive care unit at University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital after making it through a complicated surgery to repair wounds to the neck and esophagus and the abdomen area. Surgeons removed 20 percent of the dark red 2-year-old retriever's stomach due to damage to tissue and infection. Her medical bills have topped $9,000 and could surpass $12,000 to $15,000, the nonprofit said.

That is "a lot for a small organization like ours," said Beryl Board, co-executive director of Ragom. "But she has a special spirit and we just couldn't say not to helping her live the golden life that she deserves."

The group Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota is raising money for the dog's recovery and hoping to find somebody to adopt the dog.

Annie's story began earlier this week when somebody shot her in the neck. The bullet traveled through her esophagus. She was shot a second time. The bullet passed through her stomach and exited her chest. It fractured a rib and punctured her diaphragm. Annie was then thrown into a snowbank along a road in Pope County and left for dead.

A good samaritan found Annie and brought her to a local Humane Society. The dog was then transferred to the University of Minnesota.

On Friday, she was barely able to lift her head or wag her tail and still had one tube connected, but her blood pressure had stabilized and she was off of oxygen. Her condition is listed as "guarded," a blog on the nonprofit's web site said.

Those interested in contributing can contact RAGOM at www.ragom.org or by calling 952-946-8070.

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