Facebook strangers pay for puppy's medical bills after he's shot

RACINE (WITI) - A four-month-old puppy became the target of a drive-by shooting that occurred in broad daylight in Racine, Wisconsin, on Monday afternoon, May 26th -- narrowly missing the teen who was walking him. Something amazing happened hours later that instantly restored the family's faith in their community.

Racine police say a 15-year-old boy was walking the four-month-old puppy in the 1100 block of Marquette Street, when shots were fired in the area. The puppy, named "Buddy" was shot. He can't tell you what he's been through, but his mom can. "They said he's going to be a little bit tired and not so active. Not Buddy," Shakyra Ellis said.

Ellis said she asked her 15-year-old son to take Buddy for a walk on Monday afternoon. "I had just told him to go walk the dog and let him air off," Ellis said. Ellis says the two had only made it around the corner when a noise pierced the air. "It was so quick that I heard the shots," Ellis said.

At the corner of LaSalle and Prospect in Racine, the family says a stray bullet narrowly missed the teenager -- and struck the dog. "It went in the leg. It actually didn't hit the bone - and it went through the flesh," Ellis said. Racine police are investigating as Ellis counts her blessings.

"My son was right next to him. He was right by him. It could have easily been another child on the news instead of a dog," Ellis said.

Buddy was rushed to a local animal shelter when something amazing happened. By the time the puppy was out of surgery, complete strangers who caught wind of what happened via Facebook covered the puppy's medical expenses. "The post was up 15, 20 minutes, and there was calls coming in to the ER. I am so thankful," Ellis said.

In just a few hours, Ellis says her family saw the worst -- and the best -- of their community. "Buddy is ready to play. He wants the cast off. He wants the thing off his head. He is ready to play, back to himself, thank God," Ellis said.