BANGOR TOWNSHIP, MI -- When Bryce Sturtz heard a gunshot while helping a friend move earlier this month, he didn't expect to soon learn that the bullet had pierced the body of his emotional support dog -- a white Labrador retriever named Whitey.

But that's exactly what Sturtz says happened the evening of Wednesday, April 8, as he assisted his friend Blanca Gonzales at her home in the 3300 block of North Euclid Avenue in Bay County's Bangor Township.

Now, after a hefty veterinarian bill, the dog in question is recuperating though not out of the woods health-wise. Police have launched an investigation in hopes of identifying the person who pulled the trigger and the Humane Society of Bay County is pulling together reward money to aid in that effort.

"When they told us it was a bullet, we were in shock," Gonzales said. "Bryce had to leave the room for a minute. We never thought of that. Who would shoot a beautiful animal?"

"Don't die on me, Whitey"

Bryce Sturtz pets Whitey, his emotional support dog, Friday, April 10, in Bangor Township. Whitey was shot by an unknown assailant and underwent surgery at Great Lakes Pet Emergencies in Saginaw County.

Whitey is certified through the U.S. Service Dog Registry as an emotional support dog.

Sturtz is on disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury he suffered during a traffic crash several years ago. After awakening from a coma, Sturtz initially received animal therapy from Whitey's mother. He has had Whitey for a little more than a year, he said.

As Sturtz and Gonzales packed on April 8, Whitey ran around Gonzales' yard, near the Kawkawlin River.

"Whitey and Bryce have been over several times," Gonzales said. "Whitey will go out and come back. In the process of me packing, we noticed he had been gone for some time."

"He was gone for a little bit and I went back there looking for him like 7 o'clock," added the 43-year-old Sturtz. "I heard the shot. I couldn't find him when I was looking around."

As Sturtz searched, Gonzales stayed behind at her home.

About 7:13 p.m., Whitey showed up at Gonzales' door, bleeding and in pain, Sturtz said.

"I thought he and another animal had gotten into it," Sturtz said. "He was all bloody. I didn't even think about somebody shooting him."

Sturtz and Gonzales gathered the injured canine and quickly drove him to Great Lakes Pet Emergencies, 1221 Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw County's Carrollton Township. Gonzales drove as Sturtz comforted Whitey in the backseat.

"He was whining and crying in pain the whole ride there," Gonzales said of Whitey. "All of a sudden, he just stopped and I could hear Bryce in the back saying, 'Stay with me. Don't die on me, Whitey.' At that time, I was thinking, 'I'd rather hear him cry than hear nothing.' "

Fortunately, Whitey hung on.

An X-ray image from Great Lakes Pet Emergencies shows the bullet fragments in Whitey's body.

Vet performs surgery

Veterinarian Dr. Jodie Spencer performed the 15-minute surgery on Whitey at the animal hospital.

"Whitey had an entrance wound at the front aspect of his left shoulder," Spencer said. "It was fairly small, but there was a great deal of swelling over the left shoulder. It was very painful on the shoulder and he was not able to bear any weight on his left leg. With X-rays, we determined he had been shot and we could see where the bullet was located and see what type of damage had been done."

The bullet struck bone and fragmented. Spencer said the two largest fragments were just under the skin at the back of Whitey's shoulder.

"We were able to make a little incision and remove the two largest bullet fragments," the veterinarian said. "However, there are still very small fragments inside, under the skin and in the joint that we were unable to remove."

Sturtz and Gonzales said they were taken aback when they learned the true nature of Whitey's wound.

With the surgery completed, Sturtz was able to take Whitey home that same night.

The bill came to $722, though the Humane Society of Bay County contributed $200 after being contacted by Gonzales. Gonzales paid for the remainder on a CareCredit card.

"We have community outreach funds," said Jeannie Wolicki-Nichols, president of the society's Board of Directors. "We have funds available for this type of situation, where people have a huge bill to pay. We never pay 100 percent of it, but we pay a portion of it."

Wolicki-Nichols said the Humane Society is going to increase its contribution to $300.

Police looking for witnesses, reward offered

Gonzales said she has no idea who would have shot Whitey. She also expressed concern that someone in her neighborhood fired a gun.

State law prohibits the discharging of a firearm within 450 feet (150 yards) of "an occupied building, house, cabin, or any barn."

Two bullet fragments pulled from Whitey's chest.

"Obviously they were aiming to kill," Sturtz said, deducing that from the location of Whitey's entrance wound.

Sturtz on Thursday filed a complaint with the Michigan State Police. Lt. Chris Luty with the state police's Tri-City Post said an investigation is ongoing.

"We're still contacting people in the neighborhood for potential witnesses and potential suspects," Luty said. He added that anyone with pertinent knowledge can contact troopers at 989-495-5555.

Bay County Animal Control Director Mike Halstead said Sturtz also contacted his agency, but at the moment it is being left to the state police.

Luty noted Michigan does have a leash ordinance intended to prevent dogs from running free. Gonzales' yard is not fenced-in.

"Once a dog is off-property, it has to be leashed," added Bay County Animal Control Officer Olivia Shields. "It's a $120 fine for running-at-large."

However, seeing a dog running untethered is not justification for shooting it, Shields said.

"You can protect your family and your livestock; you can't just shoot a dog for walking through your yard," Shields said. "That's the whole point of having Animal Control. That's what enforcement is for."

Wolick-Nichols said she is hopeful someone can identify the shooter.

"We are going to be offering a reward for the identification, arrest, and conviction (of the culprit) and the reward will be for $1,000," she said. "We want to make sure this person is convicted."

Michigan law states it is unlawful for a person to "knowingly kill, torture, mutilate, maim, or disfigure an animal" or to "commit a reckless act knowing or having reason to know that the act will cause an animal to be killed, tortured, mutilated, maimed, or disfigured."

A person who violates this law commits a felony punishable by up to four years' imprisonment, a $5,000 fine, and 50 community service hours.

Long road to recovery

Recuperating at Sturtz's apartment, Whitey is ambulatory and affable.

But he may never be the same.

Whitey's wounds show where a bullet entered her body.

"There is significant damage to that left shoulder blade," Spencer, the veterinarian, said. "Portions of the scapula were fragmented, so he's got bone fragments and bullet fragments throughout that left shoulder joint. Unfortunately, this means he's going to continue having problems and he might require additional surgery. With or without surgery, Whitey is likely to have some chronic pain in that left shoulder."

Gonzales has said Whitey is exhibiting signs of pain when he puts weight on his left front leg. He is on painkillers and is expected to have his sutures removed in a week.

Spencer said amputation of the leg could be necessary in the long run if Whitey continues to experience pain and nothing else helps.

"Hopefully, that's a last resort," she said.

Spencer said Great Lakes Pet Emergencies charged Sturtz a discounted rate, but that Sturtz's limited financial resources is likely to also limit Whitey's options going forward.

"It's a terrible thing," Spencer said of the whole incident. "Obviously, Whitey and Mr. Sturtz have a very close relationship; you could tell they are very bonded. I think that this experience has been as hard on Mr. Sturtz as it has been on Whitey. We felt real bad for both of them."

Sturtz said he remains emotionally affected by what his four-legged friend endured.

"I don't know what I would have done if ... " Sturtz said, thinking on how Whitey's situation could have turned out worse. "I don't go anywhere without him."

Concerned parties who would like to help Sturtz pay for Whitey's veterinary costs can do so by making donations to the Humane Society of Bay County, though contributors should specify their funds are to go to that specific endeavor. To contact the agency, call 989-893-0451.