Morning Walk Turns to Nightmare After Dog Is Shot in the Face — and Somehow Lives to Tell Her Story

Miracle Husky Survives After Being Shot Twice in the Head — And Still Wags His Tail

A red husky named Zeus from Stafford Springs, Connecticut, is being called a miracle dog after surviving two gunshot wounds to the head.

In late March, Zeus went outside to use the bathroom but didn’t come back right away. His owners — Nicholas Denunzio Jr., 18, and his mother Audrey Owens — started searching for him when they suddenly heard several gunshots ring out.

Moments later, they spotted Zeus trying to make his way back home — bleeding, scared, and in pain. The 5-year-old husky collapsed and crawled under a nearby car to hide.

“He was shot twice in the head and somehow is alive,” Owens wrote on the family’s GoFundMe page.

Zeus was rushed to the Stafford Veterinary Center, where veterinarians confirmed he’d suffered a traumatic brain injury. One of the bullets entered between his eyes, lodging deep in his throat. Surgeons were able to remove two-thirds of the bullet — but fragments still remain.

Despite everything he’s endured, Zeus continues to greet his family with kisses and tail wags every single day.

“After all that he’s been through, he still shows nothing but unconditional love,” Owens said.

Photos shared by Owens show Zeus resting with bandages around his head and an X-ray revealing the bullet fragments that nearly took his life.

While Zeus remains under veterinary care, the community has rallied around him. A bake sale fundraiser is being held at Tractor Supply in Stafford Springs to help cover his medical costs.

Meanwhile, Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates, an animal rights group, has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible.

Owens describes Zeus as a bit of an escape artist — the kind of dog who once pushed an air conditioner out of a window just to get outside. But this time, his curiosity nearly cost him his life.

Still, Zeus is proving what huskies are known for — unbelievable strength, loyalty, and heart.
He may have been broken, but his spirit refuses to give up.