Dog survives gunshot, recovers while caring for puppies

A dog named Scarlet was shot in the head over the weekend in Lincoln Heights. The shooting happened after a neighbor felt threatened by the dog. Scarred and missing parts of her toes, Scarlet is recovering at the SPCA in Sharonville. She recently gave birth to eight puppies, which are being fostered. Scarlet was a stray dog, and a local woman had been caring for her. On the night of the incident, the woman put Scarlet outside, but the dog managed to get loose. A video captured the moment of the gunshot as Scarlet ran away. The bullet entered her head and exited through her chest. Dr. Jennifer Smith from the SPCA noted that it was miraculous Scarlet survived without hitting anything vital. Natalie Lotspeich, a groomer and SPCA volunteer, helped save Scarlet after hearing about the shooting from police. The woman caring for Scarlet could not afford emergency treatment, so Lotspeich took her to the Care Center. While Scarlet is in pain, Lotspeich described her as a sweet dog. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office charged the woman who was caring for Scarlet with failing to confine her. The neighbor who shot her was not charged for the shooting, as he claimed self-defense, but he had a gun when he shouldn't have. The SPCA is optimistic about Scarlet's recovery and hopes she will be ready for adoption soon. They are also accepting donations to support her care and the well-being of other dogs in need.