Dog rescued from Florida railroad tracks, treated for Shock

Cabela, Fla. — (NBC News) Cabela, the Florida dog rescued by police after she was shot and tied to railroad tracks with a train approaching, lost a lot of blood and will have her right foreleg amputated when she’s stable enough, clinic officials and police said Thursday.

Dr. Kathleen M. Meyer, president of Tampa Bay Veterinary Emergency Service, told NBC News that Cabela was treated for shock and was resting comfortably Thursday. “Unfortunately, due to extensive damage from the gunshot wound, she will probably have her front leg amputated tonight if she remains stable,” Meyer said.

Tampa police said they found the dog tied with a belt to tracks in the Sulphur Springs area north of downtown Wednesday. The 1- to 2-year-old female mixed breed had been shot in her neck above her right shoulder. Authorities stopped a train that was approaching as officers freed the dog, whom police nicknamed R&R, and rushed her to the clinic, where she was renamed Cabela.

Police said Thursday that there were no witnesses and that they still have no idea who tied Cabela to the track. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit, asking anyone with information to call 813-231-6130.

The veterinary clinic said Cabela’s treatment would cost several thousand dollars. It set up a web page for donations and said any money raised above what was needed for Cabela would go to care for other rescued animals.