'Ruthless and cold': Dog expected to recover from surgery after being shot in jaw

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A pit bull-Lab mix had bullet fragments removed from its jaw after being shot in the mouth earlier this week.

The dog's owner, Angel Wilks, said the dog, named Squirt, is expected to recover.

Wilks said Squirt has to wear a muzzle for four to 6 weeks and only eat soft foods.

[LINK: Donate to help Squirt's recovery]

Police said no arrests have been made after Squirt was shot Wednesday evening in north Charlotte.

Remember Squirt?
His mom texted me these pictures a few minutes ago. The Pitbull-lab was shot in the mouth but is back home and recovering.
Owner says Squirt has to wear muzzle for 4-6 weeks. only eat soft foods.
No arrests in this case. @wsoctv
https://t.co/Lig0J2gzWj pic.twitter.com/QNVGkj6aqU
— Stephanie Tinoco (@STinocoWSOC9) August 12, 2018

“That was just a ruthless and cold act because he wasn't bothering nobody,” Wilks said. "I don’t think they had a care in the world after what they did."

Wilks said she is thankful her dog survived.

"It was horrible,” she said. “I can't imagine who would want to do anything like this to him. He's very friendly. He's very playful. Everyone on this street knows him."

Wilks said Squirt was tied up to a tree for just 10 minutes while she was cleaning up inside.

Owner says she had Squirt on an extended leash tied to the tree out in the front yard while she cleaned out his kennel. Within minutes she says she heard a loud BOOM. She says she watched two teens run away. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/JcQi3QdluB
— Stephanie Tinoco (@STinocoWSOC9) August 10, 2018

There was blood on the sidewalk, feet away from where she said police found a bullet casing.

"They picked that up and took it in as evidence to see (if) maybe they can get a fingerprint off of it,” Wilks said.

Who would do something like this?! A woman says someone shot her dog in the jaw while tied to the tree in the front yard on Wednesday night. She had him on a leash tied to the tree with an extended wire just for a few moments as she was cleaning out his kennel. She told me the vet found bullet fragments in Squirt’s jaw. DETAILS>>> https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/dog-recovering-from-being-shot-in-jaw-in-north-charlotte/809890765 WSOC-TV
Posted by Stephanie Tinoco on Thursday, August 9, 2018

Animal control is investigating.

"It saddens me to see my best friend like this,” Wilks said.

Wilks said she briefly saw two teens running away after she heard the gunshot.

"If you would shoot an animal, then you would shoot anybody,” she said. "The bullet could have came through anybody's house. It could have hit someone but unfortunately, it hit my baby right here."

Animal control is paying part of the costs associated with this case through their safety net fund.

Wilks is asking anyone with information to call police.

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