The combined efforts of concerned residents and animal rescue volunteers wasn’t enough to save a young dog shot Sunday. Now donations are being collected for a reward to find the person responsible for fatally wounding the animal.

Nash County Animal Friends volunteer Tina Lynn Narron said she was called around 3 p.m. Sunday about a couple who had found a wounded dog at Sunset Park. Narron contacted Parker’s P.A.W.S. volunteer Julie Braswell about getting a crate to contain the dog until Braswell got off work.

“I got there and realized it was a gunshot wound,” Narron said. “The dog was throwing up and I knew she would not make it until 11:30 and we needed to take her to a vet now.”

The concerned citizens who had called the rescuers loaded the wounded dog into Narron’s car while Braswell contacted Eastern Carolina Veterinary Service in Wilson. When Narron arrived with the dog, a veterinary technician attempted to load the wounded dog on a stretcher, but the dog fought the restraints and tried to stand up.

“The dog was in pain by then,” Narron said. “I could tell she was worse off then when I saw her at Sunset Park.”

After some struggle, the dog was moved inside and given an IV while the veterinarian talked with Narron about treatment.

“She said she hadn’t seen an animal survive surgery for a gunshot wound to the abdomen,” Narron said. “When it goes into the abdomen, there really isn’t anything there to stop it, so the bullet bounces around and tears up the organs.”

After several hours, the volunteers opted to put the dog to sleep. A Wilson County Sheriff’s deputy reportedly told Narron the wound was likely caused by a 9mm handgun fired at close range. Narron reported the shooting to Rocky Mount police, who are investigating the incident.

Numerous volunteers, rescue organizations and businesses have donated hundreds of dollars for a reward for information leading to the arrest of who shot the dog.

“She was a very sweet dog,” Narron said. “She wasn’t aggressive at all. I don’t know why someone would have done that to her.”

The veterinarian determined the dog volunteers dubbed “Little Mama” had had puppies several weeks prior to the incident. Narron guessed the dog was about 2 years old and a short-haired shepherd or Pit Bull mix.

“She was very healthy and didn’t look underfed or anything,” Narron said. “I noticed when she was throwing up it was pieces of undigested food, so someone had fed her within hours of being shot. It just doesn’t make sense what would have led someone to do this.”

Anyone with information about the owner of the dog or the shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 977-1111 or crimestoppers@rockymountnc.gov.