“The puppy who was thrown in the dumpster in Gilmer last Tuesday seems to be making a remarkable recovery, as far as the malnutrition and dehydration is concerned,” said Dr. Cherie Nazzal, Animal Medical & Surgical Hospital in Gilmer. “We named her ‘Destiny’.”

Destiny almost doubled her weight in less than a week, Dr. Nazzal said.

“She weighed in Tuesday at 13 pounds, but now weighs 24 pounds!” Dr. Nazzal said.

According to the City Animal Control officer, placing Destiny in the dumpster was “a planned crime.”

Gilmer Police Officer Larry Sewell climbed in the container and got her out shortly before the trash truck was supposed to pick up the trash.

“It would have been a slow and painful death when the truck started compressing the trash, if Destiny had been a part of it,” Dr. Nazzal said.

The police are going to prosecute the perpetrator, when caught, for animal cruelty, animal abandonment, and unauthorized use of a dumpster, Dr. Nazzal said.

Destiny was X-rayed at the vet clinic and found to have been shot in the abdomen. The .22-caliber bullet deflected and hit her hip. When she was thrown in the dumpster, the hip shattered, resulting in further damage, the veterinarian said.

Destiny is scheduled to have surgery within a week. Dr. Nazzal will perform a femoral head ostectomy, using Destiny’s own ligaments to form an artificial hip joint. She will attempt to extract the .22 bullet at the same time.