‘Will to live’: Madera County dog recovers from multiple birdshot wounds

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A small dog named Benny is on the road to recovery, while the Madera County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a felony case of animal abuse to hold the responsible person accountable.

Last month, Bowe’s Animal Rescue, a Madera County nonprofit, got word that dogs were dumped in an orchard field off Avenue 9. But this wasn’t a normal rescue, and nothing could have prepared them for what they found. “He couldn’t move at all. He was just in a ball. He looked very close to death,” Bowe shared.

His condition is too horrendous to show, with his body riddled with birdshot wounds. “They’re all over his body,” said Megan Bowe, Founder/Director of Bowe’s Animal Rescue.

After a vet visit, Bowe says Benny suffers from a fractured chest and his front legs and back toe are broken.  “When I picked him up, his legs just dangled,” she explained. 

He was 11 pounds, emaciated, and most importantly, needed a guardian angel like Bowe to get him the help he needed. “He has the will to live. So we’re going to fight for him. I know some people have suggested putting him down because of the extent, but he wants to live,” Bowe stated.

On Thursday, Benny underwent his first surgery to remove as many bullet fragments as possible. Bowe holds on to the hope that he will be able to walk again, but the journey won’t be easy. “We’re hoping that his bones fuse together; otherwise, we will have to amputate one of his legs because the elbow was completely shattered. So they can’t even operate on that.”

The animal rescue can’t fathom who would have abused and abandoned Benny. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation. They told YourCentralValley.com that this is a felony animal abuse case, and the offender could face up to three years in prison and a $20,000 fine. “If you see something, you say something.”

While this fighter is far from ready to be adopted, his brother and sister will have a second chance at life. They will be going to a dog rescue shelter in Oregon, while their brother Benny works to get better day by day. “He has unconditional love for us, considering what he’s been through. It’s very shocking.”

Benny had a long road to recovery. To help cover the cost of his medical expenses, Bowe has set up a GoFundMe.