Please Help Diesel Recover from a Traumatic Shooting

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a 24-year-old single mother of two young children. This week, the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department pulled over an individual in my front yard. My 7-year-old son, curious about the lights and sirens, opened our front door to see what was happening. Tragically, our Shepherd dog, Diesel, ran out the door as it was being opened. Diesel circled the situation and returned to my son’s side on the front porch just as an officer shot Diesel, striking him in the left eye. The bullet lodged just below his airway, penetrating his muzzle—all of this happening right next to my 7-year-old son who was standing just a few feet away.

As you can imagine, this has been a devastating event for my family. My son Sean now blames himself and is fearful of the police. Diesel has had to undergo life-saving surgery at the emergency vet, leaving me with staggering vet bills, medication, and now special diet needs, already totaling over $5,000 with more to come.

Sergeant Dan Herman of the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office ordered the shot that nearly took Diesel's life. Diesel was simply doing what he knows best—protecting his family and home. The recklessness of the sheriff's office to discharge their firearm, with my 7-year-old son within many feet of Diesel, has left our entire family traumatized. Diesel is one of the best dogs any family could hope for and did not deserve this.

Through my tears, I asked the officer why he would shoot my dog, and I was only met with, "He had bitten one of the officers." However, when I asked to see where the bite was, I was told he had “jumped” but never fully latched onto the officer, and there was no proof of any of the responses given. Yet, Diesel was shot from over 10-15 feet away, standing next to my child on the porch. If the officers were scared of a dog running back to the porch, why wasn't a less-lethal option used? Why did they think it was okay to fire a weapon in close proximity to a 7-year-old? These are questions that ran through my mind as I was asking for help while my beloved pet lay there bleeding out in my arms.

Due to the gunshot, Diesel's left eye had to be surgically removed, his jaw was broken, and there is swelling where the bullet is lodged in his throat, making it difficult for him to breathe or eat anything other than extremely soft foods. Currently, he requires 24/7 supervision during this critical time.

I am hoping that some kind-hearted people out there might be able to reach out and help us through this difficult time. Please, even a share would mean the world to myself and my family. This was a completely unforeseen nightmare, and Diesel has been there for us—now it's our turn to be there for him. It's going to be a very long road, and any donation, no matter the amount, would be deeply appreciated as we navigate this traumatic situation. Thank you again for taking the time to read this and for any support you may be able to provide.