For a dog recovering from being shot in the face, Cormac’s attitude is a welcome surprise.
“He’s so sweet, a very silly little guy,” Jean Keating, executive director of the Lucas County Pit Crew, said. “He comes at you all wiggly jiggly.”
The gray-and-white “pit bull,” estimated at 10 months to a year old, was found Sunday as a stray on Chestnut Street in North Toledo with the front of his muzzle torn apart. After a responding to a call from the person who found him, Toledo police contacted the Pit Crew to help with immediate veterinary care.
“The whole right side was not attached anymore,” Ms. Keating said. “There was no way he could eat or drink.”
What was first thought to be a wound caused by another dog was quickly diagnosed as a gunshot injury upon closer inspection. Cormac underwent surgery Monday at West Toledo Animal Hospital, and the veterinarian removed a bullet from a wound in the dog’s left shoulder.
Dr. Brooke West said Cormac was fortunately found not long after he was shot, perhaps 24 hours or so, which limited how long the wound could brew infection before he started receiving strong antibiotics.
“He’s a pretty lucky dog,” she said. “It’s all going to depend on his healing and if there’s going to be any permanent damage.”
The surgeon had to remove several teeth and piece Cormac’s muzzle back together. His lower jawbone is splintered but Dr. West said they are hopeful it will be able to heal and stay intact, if perhaps a little crooked or irregular. Drains placed in the shoulder should be removed in a few days.
The dog’s prognosis is good, Dr. West said, though time will tell because mouth wounds present a number of challenges. New bacteria is constantly being introduced into a wet environment and normal canine activity will stress sutures placed in slippery oral tissue. He also could still develop infection in the jaw bone, which would be a serious complication.
“He’s on everything we can give him to prevent that, but you never know what the body’s going to do,” Dr. West said. “He’s doing remarkably well for what he’s been through. He’s a survivor, and he’s a sweetheart despite everything.”
Even with his painful injuries, the compact, 38-pound dog is friendly and affectionate. He has no sense of personal boundaries and doesn’t hesitate to greet people up close and personal. Before surgery, his kisses were extra sloppy because his tongue would repeatedly fall out of his mouth through the gaping hole in his muzzle.
“He’d lick you and he just had no control over his tongue,” Ms. Keating said.
Ms. Keating said Cormac has been reported as found to the Lucas County Canine Care & Control while the rescue takes care of his veterinary treatment. She said he was clearly loved and cared for as he is very social and was in otherwise very good condition.
Unless someone comes forward with information, it’s likely the rescue will never know what led to Cormac being shot.
“He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body,” Ms. Keating said. “I cannot imagine what would have created this situation.”
The Pit Crew, which has taken in a number of dogs recently with serious medical needs, can use monetary donations to cover Cormac’s veterinary expenses as well as donations of canned dog food for him to eat while he heals. Donations may be sent to or dropped off at 855 N. McCord Rd., Toledo, OH 43615. Monetary donations may also be made online via PayPal or by going to lucascountypitcrew.com.
First Published November 26, 2019, 10:59 p.m.
