A dog is fighting for its life in a Miami-Dade animal shelter after being shot, officials said. The injured pooch, affectionately named Mello, suffered serious injuries to his leg following the incident, which left him with fractured bones and ruptured tendons.

According to a WSVN report, Maria Serrano, the chief veterinarian at Miami-Dade Animal Services in Doral, detailed Mello's critical condition, "It is very challenging to see a dog that – he is so sweet, so charming, he’s amazing, and the fact that he got shot in the leg, you know probably he was going to be shot to kill, and luckily he didn’t [die]."

The gravity of the injury would typically call for an amputation to ensure the dog's quality of life at most shelters, as complex surgeries are beyond their capabilities. "Generally, this is an injury that in a shelter is very complicated to repair, it requires a specialized surgeon," Serrano said. However, in Mello's case, hope emerged in the form of rescue partners willing to facilitate the specialized treatment necessary to save the dog's leg.

The Miami-Dade Animal Services is currently inundated with dogs in need and has issued a plea for community support. "We’re trying to do our best to save them, and to just provide the best care that we can for them," Serrano told WSVN. “but we would really love the community to step up to come in and adopt, volunteer. There’s so many things you can do for these wonderful dogs. We have programs to take the dogs on a field day, so you can take them to the beach, you can just show them off to other people, you can reduce their stress.”

 Despite the strain, Serrano brings good news for Mello, revealing that he will soon be transferred to a rescue that will provide the necessary surgery.

Dog recovering from gunshot injuries at Miami-Dade Animal Services shelter ahead of surgery https://t.co/Ar9JaE8T0G via @wsvn

— Miami-Dade County Animal Services (@AdoptMiamiPets) April 13, 2024

The question of who would injure an animal remains unanswered as authorities probe into the shooting. "Don’t harm animals if you’re scared of them. We love them," said Serrano. "And there’s always somebody that will be willing to take care of them, so violence is definitely not an answer." As of the latest update, the identity of the shooter is still unclear.