A family's dog ran away from home. She came back 2 days later shot in the face.

WASHINGTON — A beloved family dog is recovering after being shot in the face last week. Now, animal advocates are searching for the person responsible and offering a reward for information.

The Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in the case of alleged animal cruelty.

On Friday, HRA received a call about a dog that had been shot in the head. The young dog is named Louisa. HRA says Louisa strayed from home on Wednesday near the 3300 block Ely Place Southeast. When Louisa came home two days later on Friday, her guardians saw she appeared to have a gunshot wound between her eyes.

Louisa's family took her to an emergency veterinary hospital, where an X-ray revealed that a bullet was lodged in her neck. After spotting the bullet, HRA took the dog to another hospital for more advanced diagnostics, to help determine the scope of her injuries. 

Veterinarians believe the bullet entered between her eyes, grazed her tongue, traveled through her throat, and ended up in her neck. Further imaging revealed multiple facial fractures and that Louisa’s throat was swollen, making it difficult to breathe.

HRA says veterinarians were able to successfully remove the bullet without performing surgery and treated the abscess in her throat. She is being carefully monitored but is doing well. Despite facial fractures, Louisa is expected to make a full recovery. HRA plans to reunite her with her family soon.

“It is miraculous that this dog was able to survive a gunshot wound to the face without suffering a more serious injury,” said Chris Schindler, senior vice president of Animal Welfare, Field Response and Rescue at the Humane Rescue Alliance. “We are determined to find out who is responsible for this act of alleged animal cruelty, and we need the community’s help.”

Humane Law Enforcement officers at HRA have launched an investigation to find who is responsible. Officers are looking for anyone who may have heard gunshots, saw Louisa, or noticed anything unusual in the area of 3300 block of Ely Place SE from Wednesday September 11 to Friday September 13. If you have information, please call 202-723-5730, option 3.