Dog, shot twice, needs home

Imagine a dog surviving a shotgun blast to the head.

Now imagine not just one blast, but two.

That's the case of Jasmine, a foster dog that officials think was shot twice in the head by her owner in northeast Nebraska who no longer wanted her.

The 1-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix — considered a pit bull — was taken to the Laurel (Neb.) Veterinary Clinic about two weeks ago after she was found injured and wandering.

Cedar County Sheriff Larry Koranda said his office is investigating the dog's previous owner, and criminal charges of animal cruelty or neglect are possible.

While Jasmine's wounds are indicative of the abuse she endured — she is missing her left ear and the right ear is mangled — her demeanor is that of a dog who has never known a bad day. Her tail wags constantly and she's quick to jump up and administer slobbery licks.

Dr. Dave Camenzind, who treated Jasmine, said he occasionally sees dogs brought in after hunting accidents. Camenzind was struck by how friendly Jasmine was when he saw her, despite her injuries.

Dogs “are more resilient than we give them credit for,” he said.

Jasmine is now staying with Dave and Rose Elsasser, a foster family for abused animals.

“For me it is (the worst case) because of her demeanor,” said Dave Elsasser. “She is so loving and playful. It's pretty heartbreaking because she is so sweet it's hard to believe it happened in the first place.”

The Elsassers, who live in rural Mills County, Iowa, hope Jasmine can be healed and rehabilitated, then adopted by a loving family.

Jasmine was set to be put down Oct. 24 until the Elsassers came along.

The Elsassers are part of Helping Hand for Animals, a Nebraska-based nonprofit group which tries to find homes for dogs and cats that are in areas without no-kill shelters and are in danger of being euthanized. Many of the animals were abused.

The Elsassers think Jasmine still has partial hearing, despite her injuries. While being photographed recently at a park, Jasmine was startled by a loud construction noise and put her tail between her legs.

There are more vet trips to come, and Jasmine will be working with a certified trainer next week.

The dog passed aggression and irritability tests on how she reacts to stressful situations, they said.

Officials at the Benson Animal Clinic, where Jasmine is being treated, said she is doing remarkably well and will be going back to the clinic for follow-up visits. Her care is being paid for entirely through donations.

A major concern, the Elsassers said, is working on Jasmine's separation anxiety.

The Elsassers said they expect that finding Jasmine a home will be a challenge. It's hard to place pit bulls, and it will take a special home to accept Jasmine.

Some communities have banned pit bulls. In Omaha, a series of restrictions were passed last year on pit bulls and other dogs that are deemed to be potentially dangerous. Owners must leash and harness pit bulls in public. Owners also must obtain $100,000 in liability insurance.

All animals adopted through Helping Hand are microchipped, spayed and neutered. All potential adopters are also vetted and there are numerous follow-up visits.

Rose Elsasser said she hopes Jasmine's story has a happy ending.

When Jasmine first was placed in the foster home, she still was searching for her owner.

“She is so loyal,” Rose Elsasser said. “She would go right back to him in a minute.”

Anyone interested in learning more about Jasmine or other animals in need of adoption can call (402) 426-9330 or look for a petfinder link at omaha.com.

Contact the writer:

444-1279, jason.kuiper@owh.com