Sheriff had bullet wounds in his front left leg when the police brought him into VCA Shoreline Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Shelton, Connecticut in April 2022. He was found in a park after being shot, allegedly by his former owners.
The extent of his injuries made Sheriff a candidate for amputation of his left leg. After considering the cost and complexity of transferring him to another clinic, the team determined his surgery would be done at VCA Shoreline by Dr. Dawn Nolte, a Board-Certified Surgeon, with assistance from Dr. Tom Kozlovich, a VCA Veterinary Associate.
“It appeared that his front left leg was probably shattered or at a minimum broken,” Dr. Kozlovich says. “He was a pretty scared dog, everything hurt.”
But Dr. Kozlovich said he and the VCA Shoreline team knew Sheriff was a good dog at heart, who found himself in a terrible situation.
“You looked at him and you got that gut feeling that he wanted to be a good dog and this was just a circumstance he got put into. With a great prognosis, he would be a great dog that could go into a home.”
Having Dr. Kozlovich assist with the surgery was not only the most cost-effective way to treat Sheriff, but it also gave the veterinary associate a learning opportunity with a rare injury.
Sheriff’s surgery was a success but as a ward of the Shelton Animal Shelter and Derby Police Department, he could not yet be adopted. A GoFundMe raised more than $18,000 for his care after he was featured in the local news.
“Sheriff’s case was unique because it was part of a court case. Sheriff was essentially in limbo while waiting for court hearings. This delayed his adoption process and allowed VCA to continue his care both in hospital and as a foster with one of our doctors,” says Christine Fitzgerald, Surgery Liaison.
As he recovered, Sheriff spent time at the VCA during the day, learning manners and tricks from the staff. In the evening, he would go home with Dr. Kozlovich and stayed in this routine for three months until he was able to be transferred to the shelter. Sheriff was adopted by a family 5 days after his transfer to the shelter.
“We all work at VCA because it gives us the chance to change the life of a dog or cat through the love and care we can give them. Yes, Sheriff received medical treatments, but he also received compassion and love from our doctors and technicians. That’s the part of our job that sometimes gets lost, and Sheriff was able to remind us all how important compassion and love for animals is.”
“Sheriff’s situation reminds our staff why we are in veterinary medicine. Every emergency hospital has been so busy and short-staffed for the past 3 years, that every shift worked is a non-stop triage, in patient care, records, and repeat. Having a dog come in after being shot by another human causes everyone to take a step back and pause,” says Fitzgerald. “We all work at VCA because it gives us the chance to change the life of a dog or cat through the love and care we can give them. Yes, Sheriff received medical treatments, but he also received compassion and love from our doctors and technicians. That’s the part of our job that sometimes gets lost, and Sheriff was able to remind us all how important compassion and love for animals is.”
While Sheriff reminded the team about the compassion, they taught him about trust.
“Our team worked hard to show Sheriff that not every person wants to hurt him. Sheriff became trusting and affectionate toward members of our staff. He learned tricks such as sit, shake, and down, along with socializing with other staff pets. He also adapted well to his foster home by taking over the bed. This helped prepare him for adoption and being a great family dog,” she says.
During his time with VCA Shoreline and Dr. Kozlovich, Sheriff recovered from his surgery, learned to walk and manage his balance, and also was treated for an injury on his right front leg – now his weight-bearing leg. By the time he left the care of VCA Shoreline, Sheriff was a stereotypical German shepherd, Dr. Kozlovich says.
“He turned out to be this absolutely amazing, gentle, intelligent, stubborn German shepherd dog that just ended up being a puppy,” he says, adding that a corner of his coffee table may have a few bite marks. “We took this dog that was for all intents and purposes aggressive, and turned him into the biggest ham sandwich in the world.”
Fitzgerald says she is proud of the VCA doctors and staff for changing Sheriff’s life.
“With our training and knowledge, we were able to treat him medically with surgery and hospital care. The big impact is found in our team stepping up and caring for him for over 3 months when no one else was able to,” she says. “I think Sheriff will stay in the hearts of our team for many years to come. We are so pleased with the outcome and thrilled he found a new home and family to love him forever.”
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