The story of the adorable 2-year-old Nugget is most definitely a remarkable one. Someone called the Second Chance Rescue NYC animal center, telling them that a dog was lying helpless on the streets suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
Immediately, the rescuers of Second Chance rushed to the scene and tried to help out this pup to the best of their abilities. They discovered the four-footer was chipped and listens to the name Nugget.
The rescuers tried to call her owners for help, but they didn’t want anything to do with her anymore and relinquished her to the shelter.
The previous owners also had no comment on the gunshot wound and the staff at the shelter was left completely heartbroken. At a time when Nugget needed her owners the most, they left her behind without even thinking about it.
The rescuers decided to take her to a medical facility, provide her with some emergency first aid and get her an X-ray to see in what kind of medical shape she was.
Unfortunately, the X-ray revealed the terrible news that the bullet went through almost every important organ.
Nugget was clearly in a bad predicament yet always remained friendly, caring and gentle towards her rescuers. As you can imagine, a surgery was absolutely necessary – but given the severity of the injuries, it would cost more than $6,000 to prevent the bullet from taking Nugget’s life.
Luckily, thanks to some generous support by people who heard about the pup’s story on social media, the organization raised enough funds to proceed with Nugget’s surgery.
However, the extent of her injuries resulted in some complications.
Nugget was filling up with fluid after the bullet pierced her abdomen, spleen, gallbladder, intestines only to finally end up stuck in the liver. Removing the bullet was an absolute no-go as it would surely kill the pup, but doctors did everything they could to repair the damage.
“I have been hesitant/scared to post an update these past few days. I didn’t want to jinx anything given the severity of her injuries. As you can recall, Nugget was shot and brought into the shelter, her owner was called and they refused to come get her. With your help, Nugget received her life-saving emergency surgeries. The Bullet powered through her side and went through/obliterated her abdomen, chest, diaphragm, spleen, gallbladder, intestine and now will remain in her liver…yes it can stay there. Everything I listed was surgically repaired – YES…EVERYTHING,” the Second Chance Rescue organization posted on their Facebook page.
The doctors and rescuers were still very concerned that Nugget would still have some bio leakage, and they anxiously waited for about a week.
Luckily, Nugget’s condition was clearly improving, despite a couple of small setbacks.
One of those setbacks was excessive vomiting, but that turned out to be a side effect of her medication.
“THANKFULLY, she is on the mend and recovering very very well. Yes, there have been a couple of bumps but we are getting through it, she had a massive vomit attack the same night she was released so she was brought right back, re-ultrasound all is well (after my meltdown, listen the GI was compromised,I’mm allowed to have my moments). Just needed to change the anti-nausea meds and she is responding well,” the rescuer added.
It’s not just Nugget’s strength that’s remarkable, but everybody who came into contact with the pup can’t help but praise her loving personality.
“Being so far away from her I find comfort in one thing, hearing the way her medical team speaks of her, I have never ever heard one of our medical partners speak with such love in their heart like they speak of NUG. They can’t stop raving about how AMAZING and kind Nug is.”
The animal organization staff member also posted a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped Nugget in her recovery process and donated for her surgery.
It’s absolutely amazing that this dog made it alive as her chances of survival when they first found her were extremely low.
Thanks to Nugget’s fighting spirit, doctors, rescuers, and volunteers, this pup’s future is finally looking bright again.
She’ll remain at the shelter and will be put up for adoption so that she can find her loving forever home.
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