Online animal lovers raise money for wounded pup

It had been more than a week since Marissa Hinrichs and Cory Stinar had last seen their dog, Orion, but the pair wasn't giving up hope.

The husky, less than a year old, had gotten away from the Grand Forks couple two weeks ago while on a walk in Alvarado, Minn., sparking a campaign of flier-hanging, Facebook-posting and general worrying about the fate of the energetic dog Hinrichs describes as "technically still a puppy" but almost wolf-like in appearance.

Eventually, their search paid off. A man in Grafton, N.D., about 30 miles from Alvarado, called their home to say he believed the dog was in his shop.

"We drove out there immediately and saw it was Orion," Hinrichs said. "That's when we saw his paw had just an awful, nasty gash on it."

The dog was stand-offish at first, favoring the wounded paw in which bone and tendon could be seen through the torn flesh and fur. But when his owners called his name, Orion limped to them, whining in recognition.

The couple drove to Kindness Animal Hospital in Grand Forks to assess the severity of the wound. The veterinary staff soon found bullet fragments embedded in the gash, Hinrichs said, indicating Orion had been shot. What's more, the bullet had caused such damage to the dog's lower leg that the veterinarians determined the paw—and possibly the entire affected leg—could not be saved.

Orion is now due for surgery Thursday at the animal hospital. Hinrichs said the staff there will determine the full extent of the damage to his leg that day to decide how much of the limb is in need of amputation. Though Orion was largely back to his old, playful self by Wednesday night, Hinrichs said the cause of his injury is still a sore subject.

"After we found out it was caused by a bullet, it's hard not to be angry," she said. "He's our family, so it's hard to imagine him going through that pain."

The initial shock of the gruesome-looking injury was followed shortly after by some sticker shock at the vet. Hinrichs said the cost of Orion's surgery is nearly $1,600, a sum she said will likely be boosted to an even greater level by follow-up care and therapy.

To help defray the expense, Hinrich's mother, Vicki, started a GoFundMe page to raise donations on the popular crowdfunding site. As of noon Thursday, the effort to raise money for Orion had raised more than $1,300 toward a $1,500 goal.

The outpouring of support has been overwhelming, Hinrichs said, and she expressed gratitude for monetary gifts and positive thoughts alike.

Even if the surgery leaves Orion a three-legged pup, Hinrichs was optimistic he'd be content no matter what. Shortly after coming home from the vet Monday, Orion had "snuggled up into his bed" to recuperate with plenty of sleep and food. By mid-week, Hinrichs said, he was "trying to play as if nothing is wrong."

"He's hopping around on three legs," she said. "I think after the operation, he's going to be just fine, going to be happier than ever."