Dog shot in Stafford, state police say

STAFFORD, CT (WFSB) – A Stafford family says their dog is lucky to be alive after it was shot twice early this morning.

It happened at a home in town around 8:42 a.m., according to police.

Nicholas Denunzio says his 4-year-old husky Zeus is like any other four-legged friend.

“He just wants to cuddle you, play fetch,” said Denunzio.

But after what happened to Zeus this morning, Nicholas says he is lucky to still have a dog.

“I mean, I don’t know how he’s not dead, they shot him two times in the face,” Denunzio said.

His father’s girlfriend says Zeus was shot after he ran outside when someone else was leaving the house this morning.

Moments later gunshots fired off. She ran outside to find Zeus under a camper parked a few houses down the road.

“He had a bunch of blood running down his face and a hole right between his eyes,” Denunzio explained.

Denunzio says Zeus is expected to survive after having surgery this morning.

He says Zeus is now recovering at the local animal hospital.

State police are still investigating who pulled the trigger and what led to Zeus being shot.

Zilla Camanella, Co-Founder of Desmond’s Army, an animal advocacy group, says this is the latest of what’s been a significant increase in animal abuse cases over the past year.

“Horrified, absolutely horrified to know someone could shoot a dog in the face,” said Camanella.

She says Desmond’s Army has dealt with over 60 cases in the past year alone.

“Everybody is just coming out of COVID, and it seems to be an excuse for this unjustifiable behavior,” Camanella said.

“I hope whoever did it gets what they deserve. It’s not right and I hope they can pay for the medical bill because it’s not going to be cheap.”

The family has started a GoFundMe for Zeus’s recovery.

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