How you can help Ava, puppy shot in head after Harvey

HOUSTON – A 7-month-old puppy who was shot point blank in the face is on the mend after she underwent three successful surgeries on Wednesday.

Ava, an apparent terrier mix, was shot in the eye about a week after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston region. She was brought to Houston Pets Alive weeks later, and her injuries were already beginning to heal.

"The right side of her face was literally shot to pieces,” said Andrea Birkelbach, executive director of Houston Pets Alive.

Doctors removed a bullet from the right side of her skull. It was lodged underneath the skin behind her right ear.

She was on the operating table for three and a half hours.

Doctors first removed a section of her jawbone.

“That was probably the most important part of the surgery because she couldn’t really eat normally or open her mouth normally,” said Dr. J. Matthew Sherwood, of Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists.

The second part of the surgery was much more involved.

The bullet severely damaged Ava’s ear canal, so doctors had to take it out.

“That was actually quite challenging because there was almost 2 inches of new bone formation where the bullet passed through so that was the longest part of the procedure,” Sherwood said.

Advocates said investigators were never able to find the shooter because Ava’s original owner, who was forced to surrender the puppy, had no idea who committed the crime.

“Ava is surprisingly sweet and happy,” Birkelbach said. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her. No puppy does.”

Ava may need an additional surgery on her eye to remove some tissue.

But now, the hope is, she can live a pain-free life.

“As long as she recovers well, her quality of life should be almost instantly better,” Sherwood said.

The group is raising money to help cover the costs of Ava’s surgery. Donations can be made at houstonpetsalive.org/donateform.

People interested in fostering Ava through her recovery can make inquiries at houstonpetsalive.org/foster.


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