Dog Shot in the Face by Owner Makes Full Recovery, Finds Perfect New Home

Courtesy of Stark County Sheriff's Office

A purebred German shepherd that was shot in the face by his owner at an Ohio hunting ground has recovered after a months-long rehabilitation.

The dog has also been adopted into a new loving home, ensuring the safe and happy future he deserves.

Ohio’s Stark County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) stated on Oct. 23 that 3-year-old Zeus was shot in January, and his previous owner had been convicted.

Major CJ Stantz of SCSO’s Operations Division told The Epoch Times via email that the ex-police officer who shot Zeus went to trial on the case and “was found guilty by a jury” in September.

“He is now serving time for shooting the dog,” Stantz said.

Courtesy of Stark County Sheriff's Office

Zeus went through multiple surgeries while boarding at the SCSO’s Dog Warden division, reports WKYC.

Deputy Jon Barber said that despite his harrowing experience, Zeus adores human attention.

“The second I get up and move, he'll move with me ... [but] he spends most of his time laying around, being comfortable,” Barber told the TV station.

Kevin Fishburn, who shot Zeus, justified shooting on public hunting ground by saying he “feared for his own safety,” WOIO reported. Zeus was found later that same day by a local, running around with serious injuries. The local rushed him to a veterinarian for an assessment.

Fishburn’s judge delivered the maximum sentence of 12 months in jail, calling the ex-officer’s act “cowardly” and “inhumane.”

The judge then expressed hope that the incident would prompt a reassessment of the law to allow for more severe sentencing for such crimes, the report said.

Courtesy of Stark County Sheriff's Office

Fully recovered from his ordeal, Zeus was neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped, ready for a new family to come forward and offer him a home. And one loving family did.

At the time of writing, the resilient German shepherd is in a caring home where he is “doing very well,” said Stantz.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at [email protected]