German Shepherd "Champ" shot 5 times while protecting his family, but need help

Danny Tse

I hope he finds a good home. Read about it here

LOS ANGELES-- "Champ" the four year old German Shepherd mix was shot and badly hurt while protecting his family's home, and was scheduled to be euthanized after weeks of being kept as evidence.

Now he needs help.

On February 27th, Champ was shot 5 times by an intruder as he tried to protect his owner's home in South Los Angeles, says Tiffany Norton of Coastal German Shepherd Rescue.

The shooter lodged several bullets in the dog's body, leaving Champ with a broken jaw bone, nerve problems, a bullet entry under his eye, and wounds covering his neck, shoulder, and abdomen.

Champ was kept as evidence while the intrusion case was pending, and was scheduled to be euthanized because his owners declined to get him the costly medical care he needed.

That's when Coastal German Shepherd Rescue stepped in.

The charity group picked Champ up Friday and transported him to their veterinarian team at Alicia Pet Care Center.

According to Norton, Champ is getting a "full body work up" and the organization will soon know what Champ's medical plan will be.

Veterinarians working on Champ say he is very lucky the bullets went through his body, and that he will likely not suffer any long term medical problems from the shooting.

Norton says that Champs medical bills are adding up and her organization is asking for help to save pay them.

Better yet, Coastal German Shepherd Rescue is looking for someone to adopt Champ and give him a good home after he recovers.

"It's gonna be a really special person who's gonna bring him into their home," Norton said. "Really right now, we're looking for someone with a big heart who wants to support Champ."

Volunteers for the charity organization say despite all he's been through, Champ is still a very sweet, calm, and collected dog who will "give his paw to all who would stop and give him a pet and a hello."

To foster, adopt, or donate to Champ's medical fund, please visit the Coastal German Shepherd Rescue's website at coastalgsr.org.

shack

Champ's **** "owner" deserves to lose their possessions. Does this sound wrong? Does this sound like I'm choosing an animal over a human? Does this sound insensitive?

Too damn bad.

An animal gets severely hurt trying to protect your STUFF and you are willing to just let it be put down...with no attempt to find a way to help. That is simply not right. IMO they have an obligation as it's owner and as a human being to at least try to help the animal. Maybe they did...but they obviously didn't try very hard, because a call to the newspaper would have gotten all sorts of help. Ask for help. Sell some of the stuff he saved to help him. Do something. :mad:

nooshinjohn

shack wrote: »

Champ's **** "owner" deserves to lose their possessions. Does this sound wrong? Does this sound like I'm choosing an animal over a human? Does this sound insensitive?

Too damn bad.

An animal gets severely hurt trying to protect your STUFF and you are willing to just let it be put down...with no attempt to find a way to help. That is simply not right. IMO they have an obligation as it's owner and as a human being to at least try to help the animal. Maybe they did...but they obviously didn't try very hard, because a call to the newspaper would have gotten all sorts of help. Ask for help. Sell some of the stuff he saved to help him. Do something. :mad:

Perhaps Champs owners could not afford the care the dog needed. There are many in L.A. that cannot think about anyone but themselves and I agree that a call to a local news network would have been all that was needed. I whole heartedly agree with you about choosing humans over animals all day long and twice on Sunday, but this dog deserves a better fate than that.

shack

nooshinjohn wrote:

Perhaps Champs owners could not afford the care the dog needed.

If you can't afford it...then don't own it.

dave shepard

The wife and I agree with Shack. There is nothing we wouldn't try and do for our 4 legged family members. Why should I expect them to help me or my wife in a bad ordeal if we would not do the same for them.

tonyb

In total agreement with Shack. There is no end, and no expense,I would not do for my dogs. My GS is my best friend,protector of the family,kids,and even strangers kids. Their sense of loyalty knows no bounds and as an owner,should be repayed no matter what. I'm just stunned at the attitude of these owners. Stories like this get my blood boiling.

It doesn't matter what breed of dog you have,plenty of good ones out there,no doubt. Being a german shepherd owner, I just can't say enough about the breed as a family dog. Having 2 grandsons,when both were in the crawling stages,even the early walking stages,this dog of mine would position himself infront of the stairs so the kids wouldn't fall. He never lets any kid wander into the woods alone,he knows theirs danger out there. He hears a baby cry in the middle of the night,he comes to wake me up to let me know. Just a few examples, to think that if this dog was in need, and for me to turn my back on him? That dog would get better medical care than some people do.Damn,I hate stories like this,I'm donating...end of rant.

bobman1235

Another one here on shack's (well, Champ's) side. What an **** the owner is.

nooshinjohn

shack wrote: »

If you can't afford it...then don't own it.

A point well taken, and I agree with it, but most don't have that kind of common sense when making babies either.

Hillbilly61

shack wrote: »

Champ's **** "owner" deserves to lose their possessions. Does this sound wrong? Does this sound like I'm choosing an animal over a human? Does this sound insensitive?

Too damn bad.

An animal gets severely hurt trying to protect your STUFF and you are willing to just let it be put down...with no attempt to find a way to help. That is simply not right. IMO they have an obligation as it's owner and as a human being to at least try to help the animal. Maybe they did...but they obviously didn't try very hard, because a call to the newspaper would have gotten all sorts of help. Ask for help. Sell some of the stuff he saved to help him. Do something. :mad:

+1

This looks like a **** situation. Kind of reminds me of the 3 legged pig joke. It goes that the pig pulled the family out of a burning house. The punch line to the joke is the question asked to the owner afterward: "So, why does the pig have three legs"? The owner's response is "For a pig that great, you can't eat it all at once."

treitz3

I hate to say this but it's just a dog. The almighty has a time and place for everything. If it was a horse that got shot 5 times, do you think the response would be different? I mean, a horse is a pet too...right?

The right thing to do would be to put it out of it's misery as soon as it was shot. Shack, you and others may think less of me for my way of thinking but come on man, it's just a dog. If it was my sister or mother I'd sell my own manhood to keep them alive. Both of them. Manhood, that is.

NotaSuv

As one who has owned and trained GSD's for decades i find it very hard to compare a hero shot 5 times trying to protect a home and its family to the shooting of a horse. Havent seen many horses that would do that.protect their family that is....I know ever one of my trained buddies would have done the same...I figure any animal that puts itself between harm and a family deserves everything that can be done and especially here where the animal will make a complete recovery..must be that good dog karma thing and the angels at the rescue group.

bobman1235

A dog can be a part of the family to some people. And to someone who doesn't subscribe to your "almighty" and his "plan", you're just an animal like a dog is.

Plenty of people end up having to put their dogs down, but I think the fact that this dog was shot protecting the home is what makes it extra outrageous that these people wouldn't go the extra mile to try and save him.

You do reinforce the old saying, though, treitz. "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man." ~Mark Twain

treitz3

I have actually picked up a starving dog. She's sitting right next to me as I type [been with us for 8 years] and she IS part of the family. That said, if she got shot 5 times doing what is a natural instinct which is protecting her territory? Yeah, I wouldn't think twice about putting her down.

If I had the cash to save her without losing my home or feeding my human child, of course I would try my best and sell a few things but come on guys. We don't know the full story about the cat that owned him in the first place. He could have been on welfare and had six children. We don't know. He could have been a millionaire and had no children. Again, we don't know.

Bottom line is that it's just a dog. Nothing more, nothing less.

ben62670

I doubt very seriously that the family just doesn't care. I was out of work for a while and my German Shorthair Pointer got an infection in her uterus. I didn't have anyway to come up with the $1,100 to save her, but luckily I found a veterinary clinic that did it for $350. Long story short some people don't ave the means to come up with the care and the after care.
Ben

shack

treitz3 wrote:

I hate to say this but it's just a dog.

The right thing to do would be to put it out of it's misery as soon as it was shot. Shack, you and others may think less of me for my way of thinking but come on man, it's just a dog. .

treitz3 wrote:

Bottom line is that it's just a dog. Nothing more, nothing less.

Not everyone believes as you do....fortunately.

To many, the canine-human relationship is the ultimate reflection of a mutual & unconditional level of commitment & of a dog's ability to become one with its human. It is a relationship of love, care, & loyalty that penetrates the soul, softens the heart, & generates an inseparable emotional bond. - Kim D.R. Dearth/Author and former managing editor of Dog World

tonyb

Hmm...Glad you feel that way Tom,because now,after this past weekend, when it becomes too costly to fix you, we will have to put you down.

I'm not advocating to put a dog on the same level as a human,but for gods sake,alittle effort is all anyone could ask.

treitz3

tonyb wrote: »

Hmm...Glad you feel that way Tom,because now,after this past weekend, when it becomes too costly to fix you, we will have to put you down.

Hmmm, the new healthcare bill comes to mind with that one. :eek:

I'm not some heartless monger that doesn't care one bit about animals. I do. I've never shot Bambi [though I have tried with no success], I have taken in 4 animals from the shelter and given them the lap of luxury until they naturally parted from this world.

I'm just saying that it's just a dog. It's not a human. It's not anything other than what they are instinctively breed to do. If you want to get down to the nitty gritty, the dog was protecting his/her terf. Not it's owners. THAT'S what they are breed to do and that's also what is an instinctual part of what they are.

shack

bobman1235 wrote:

You do reinforce the old saying, though, treitz. "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man." ~Mark Twain

Not everyone thinks a dog is JUST a dog...or that it is merely acting on instinct.

Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in. - Mark Twain

Dogs have more love than integrity. They've been true to us, yes, but they haven't been true to themselves. - Clarence Day

A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself. - Josh Billings

A dog has the soul of a philosopher. - Plato

Dogs wait for us faithfully - Marcus Tullius Cicero

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras

No man can be condemed for owning a dog. As long as he has a dog, he has a friend; and the poorer he gets, the better friend he has. - Will Rogers

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. - Sigmund Freud

A dog is not "almost human," and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such. - John Holmes

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. - Andrew A. Rooney

You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us. - Robert Louis Stevenson

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. - Unknown

The poor dog, in life the firmest friend, "The first to welcome, foremost to defend. - Lord Byron, an epitaph for his dog Boatswain.

Children and dogs are as necessary to the welfare of the country as Wall Street and the railroads. - Harry S. Truman

No matter how little money and how few possesions you own, having a dog makes you rich. - Louis Sabin

hearingimpared

treitz3 wrote: »

I hate to say this but it's just a dog. The almighty has a time and place for everything. If it was a horse that got shot 5 times, do you think the response would be different? I mean, a horse is a pet too...right?

The right thing to do would be to put it out of it's misery as soon as it was shot. Shack, you and others may think less of me for my way of thinking but come on man, it's just a dog. If it was my sister or mother I'd sell my own manhood to keep them alive. Both of them. Manhood, that is.

Tom, I'm sorry buddy but "just a dog!?!" I would go to the ends of the earth to save my Moose just as I would one of my boys. I brought that dog into this world and he's been my friend, my son, my protector, my love, my joy, my companion and in many instances my only comfort when things were going real, real bad. He stands by me whether I'm right or wrong.

Champ deserves to be treated like a hero and as such given every possible opportunity to live no matter how impaired he might be.

I'm all for humans over animals but I don't consider my pooch or champ just another animal.

hearingimpared

Keiko wrote: »

Depends on the "human." But that's just me.

You got that right. There are some humans that make animals look like they are more intellegent and caring.

hearingimpared

What an appropriate song Mike. I fell in love with that face.

hearingimpared

Keiko wrote: »

I'm sure my last sentence will offend some people, but in the words of "The Grand One," I don't give a ****.

. . . or better still TOUGH ****!!!;):cool:

Knucklehead

Our dog is like one of the Family...and would be treated as such....she is such a faithful friend.

exalted512

I dont understand why the owners dont want him back????

I can understand not being able to pay for it...but now that they probably wont have to...why not take him back?

-Cody

NotaSuv

Knucklehead wrote: »

Our dog is like one of the Family...and would be treated as such....she is such a faithful friend.

my 2 are my kids now...hell they are happier to see me everyday than both kids or wife every are...lol.....beyond faithful its 24/7 love,affection and protection...and yes I too have had to put more than one dog down BUT there was 0 chance of a full and healthy recovery..in this case with the dog being able to survive and fully recover..cost should not be an option..think this really depends on the situation..and I too would love to know why they do not want this lil hero back.

Fireman32

My dog is family to me. I would sell everything i had to help him.

lightman1

Fireman32 wrote: »

My dog is family to me. I would sell everything i had to help him.

And Buster is one cool dog, Dave.
Cats taste like chicken......

Kex

Keiko wrote: »

I know it's not much, but I just donated 10.00 into Champ's fund. ...

I'm sure every little bit helps, and it wouldn't take that many $10 donations to make a big difference.

I don't know who the owners are (I didn't read the story), but there are already some serious costs involved when you live in L.A. (mostly related to housing, property taxes and insurance), and it's extraordinarily easy for families to get in some very big trouble very fast.

Our own dog, an Australian Cattle Dog (sometimes called Blue Heelers), went out for her dinner last Friday. When she came back in, about forty-five minutes later, she had thrown up her dinner (she does tend to throw up if she eats a stick or anything when she's outside, and she loves to chew on sticks, unfortunately). Long story short: thirty minutes later, we were driving to the 24h emergency hospital, and only got her back home yesterday. She can barely walk. The bill was $5,000. They did offer us some kind of "pet credit" (which we declined) where you can pay large vet bills over six months without interest.

The diagnosis is acute pancreatitis. She may recover fully, but only time will tell. That bill would have meant very serious trouble for some families. In fact, I know of a family at our son's school that got a $1,200 medical bill for a one night stay in hospital for "observation" (no treatments or scans involved), and they don't know how to pay that, even though one of them is in the legal profession with a six figure salary.

I'm not rushing to judgement on this family, even if what happened sounds very wrong. Of course, it is also quite possible that they are just a$$holes: there is no shortage of those here either.

Eugene_biker

treitz3 wrote: »

Hmmm, the new healthcare bill comes to mind with that one. :eek:

I'm not some heartless monger that doesn't care one bit about animals. I do. I've never shot Bambi [though I have tried with no success], I have taken in 4 animals from the shelter and given them the lap of luxury until they naturally parted from this world.

I'm just saying that it's just a dog. It's not a human. It's not anything other than what they are instinctively breed to do. If you want to get down to the nitty gritty, the dog was protecting his/her terf. Not it's owners. THAT'S what they are breed to do and that's also what is an instinctual part of what they are.

What's so great about humans?

shack

Kex wrote:

I don't know who the owners are (I didn't read the story), but there are already some serious costs involved when you live in L.A. (mostly related to housing, property taxes and insurance), and it's extraordinarily easy for families to get in some very big trouble very fast.

Our own dog, an Australian Cattle Dog (sometimes called Blue Heelers), went out for her dinner last Friday. When she came back in, about forty-five minutes later, she had thrown up her dinner (she does tend to throw up if she eats a stick or anything when she's outside, and she loves to chew on sticks, unfortunately). Long story short: thirty minutes later, we were driving to the 24h emergency hospital, and only got her back home yesterday. She can barely walk. The bill was $5,000. They did offer us some kind of "pet credit" (which we declined) where you can pay large vet bills over six months without interest.

The diagnosis is acute pancreatitis. She may recover fully, but only time will tell. That bill would have meant very serious trouble for some families. In fact, I know of a family at our son's school that got a $1,200 medical bill for a one night stay in hospital for "observation" (no treatments or scans involved), and they don't know how to pay that, even though one of them is in the legal profession with a six figure salary.

Just another reason to NOT live in LA.

shack

My wife would spend any amount on money to save the life of her dog as long as there was a chance. Yes we too have put down beloved pets...but never because we couldn't afford care (even when money was tight). We took on a resonsiblitiy to care for these animals and do not take it lightly.

Now if it was medical care for me we couldn't afford..."pfft...let him die."