The owner of a dog found with a gunshot wound by the side of the road in the East County came forward Tuesday night.
A driver spotted the dog Monday morning on Viejas Grande Rd. and called Animal Services. The gun shot appeared to have pierced the dog's lungs.
However, the owner of the retriever mix said he does not wish to keep the dog and has turned him over to the county, according to Animal Services.
The dog, now named "Chance," will continue to receive care from the county until he can be adopted. Veterinarians placed him in an oxygen kennel while his lungs heal from the gun wound.
On Wednesday, Chance's condition was upgraded from "critical" to "serious." Though he remained in the oxygen kennel, his caretakers said he was much more alert Wednesday morning and he's been eating his food.
Treatment for the dog is expensive, and the Animal Shelter says it needs all the help it can get.
You can make a donation to the "Spirit Fund" with Animal Services by visiting their website here.
