Brownie: Dog who was shot in Syracuse recovers from surgery

SYRACUSE, NY- A veterinary surgeon has operated on "Brownie" the shepherd mix to help the dog recover from a gunshot to the neck.

February 12, 2011 update: Brownie gets good report at veterinary clinic no further surgery needed. 

A bullet pierced Brownie's trachea while the dog was in his own Syracuse backyard the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Dr. Timothy Robinson of the Veterinary Medical Center of CNY performed the surgery Wednesday when Brownie became puffy from air leaking into his tissue from holes in his trachea.

Veterinarians at VMC performed an endoscopy to view the damage in Brownie's throat. They discovered multiple holes requiring surgical repair. Dr. Robinson borrowed tissue from others nearby areas to close the holes in the trachea and restore normal airflow to Brownie's lungs.

This is the second time the Barnes family has brought Brownie to VMC in the last four weeks. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Patricia Barnes was in her home on Primrose Avenue when she heard gunshots. Her dog was outside. Brownie suddenly stopped barking.

Patricia's son brought Brownie inside with blood all over his neck.  "He was bleeding, he had holes in him," said Barnes.

They called police. Police urged them to get Brownie to a veterinarian.  They rushed Brownie to the Veterinary Medical Center on Bridge Street in East Syracuse. Barnes said,  "They told me within an hour he would have been dead."

Veterinarians stabilized the dog and found entry and exit wounds for the bullet. It had passed through Brownie's throat. The shooting damaged the Shepherd's trachea. Brownie was sent home the next day with instructions to give him antibiotics and rest while the wounds heal.

Animal Cruelty investigators from the SPCA came to the home to determine what happened. They do not know who shot the dog. They consider it an open case, but have no witnesses.

Patricia gets emotional when she talks about what happened to her dog, "He's like family to me. I love him." She and her adult son get by on disability and Supplemental Security Income.  

The Shamrock Animal Fund has continued to advocate for the Barnes' family in the four weeks since the shooting. The fund has also collected nearly $1000 in donations from across Central New York.