Mercy, a black dog, resting on a blue towel and looking into the camera

Justice for Mercy | $MERCY

She was shot in the face, left to suffer, and still nursed five newborn puppies while she could barely breathe.

Mercy was found alive in a crate on Malblanc Road while in labor, emaciated, weak and struggling to breathe. All five puppies were rescued alive and are receiving round-the-clock care.

Read Mercy's storyDonate to her care

Last verified update

AUGUST 31, 2026

Mercy is alive and receiving emergency veterinary care, but her fight is not over. At this update, she required surgery to remove only what could safely be reached. One fragment causing serious breathing problems cannot safely be removed, and the extent of any permanent damage remained unknown.

This page will be updated when Brown County Humane Society confirms new information.

Her story

She was shot in the face, left to suffer, and still gave birth to five puppies.

Mercy lying in a crate with her newborn puppies
Mercy gave birth while critically injured and still nursed her puppies.
A newborn Mercy puppy being bottle-fed with a pacifier
Her puppies are receiving round-the-clock care.

Mercy was dumped in a crate on Malblanc Road while in labor, emaciated, weak and struggling to breathe. Her five newborn puppies were cold, wet, hungry and still covered in afterbirth. She had still managed to nurse them.

Rescuers initially believed she had been hit by a car. X-rays revealed multiple bullets and fragments throughout her face and head. Brown County Humane Society believes she may have lived with those injuries for a week or longer before she was found.

Mercy and all five puppies were rushed into emergency care at Rolling Hills Veterinary Service. Because of the medication Mercy is receiving, she currently cannot nurse them, so all five puppies are being bottle-fed around the clock.

What happened

A timeline of what she endured.

  1. 01

    Dumped while in labor

    Mercy and her five newborn puppies were found in a crate on Malblanc Road.

  2. 02

    Found critically weak

    She was emaciated, weak and struggling to breathe. Her puppies were cold, wet, hungry and still covered in afterbirth.

  3. 03

    X-rays revealed bullets and fragments

    Imaging showed multiple bullets and fragments throughout her face and head.

  4. 04

    Emergency veterinary care

    Brown County Humane Society rushed Mercy and all five puppies to Rolling Hills Veterinary Service.

  5. 05

    Five puppies bottle-fed around the clock

    Medication currently prevents Mercy from nursing, so caregivers are bottle-feeding all five puppies.

  6. 06

    Surgery and an uncertain prognosis

    Vets planned to remove only what could safely be reached. One fragment affecting her breathing cannot safely be removed, and possible permanent damage remained unknown.

Justice for Mercy

Help identify who shot and dumped Mercy.

Brown County Humane Society is asking for help identifying whoever shot and dumped Mercy. Anyone who recognizes her or saw a person or vehicle on Malblanc Road is urged to contact the Brown County Dog Shelter.

Call 937-378-3457View the original shelter appeal
Mercy resting on a blanket inside a crate with her five newborn puppies

Her five puppies

Born in the middle of her worst days.

Mercy's puppies were born in a crate on the side of a road, cold, wet and still covered in afterbirth. She nursed them anyway.

All five were rescued alive and are being bottle-fed around the clock.

The medical reality

What the X-rays showed.

Medical image: skull X-ray taken during Mercy's veterinary care

  • Multiple fragments

    X-rays revealed multiple bullets and fragments throughout Mercy's face and head.

  • Breathing damage

    She was struggling to breathe when she was found, and still nursed her newborns.

  • Some fragments cannot safely be removed

    One fragment causing serious breathing problems cannot safely be removed.

  • Uncertain prognosis

    Vets planned to remove only what could safely be reached. The extent of any permanent damage remained unknown as of August 31, 2026.

You can help Mercy

Her fight is not over.

100% of creator fees will be donated to Brown County Humane Society to support Mercy's surgery, medical treatment and continued care.

Donate directly through Brown County Humane Society

Donate to her care

bchsohio.org/donate-online

$MERCY

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$MERCY is an independent community campaign built to support Mercy and her five puppies. Always verify links independently.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Sources & verification

  1. 01Original shelter appeal, Brown County Humane Society
  2. 02FOX19 report, August 31, 2026
  3. 03Local 12 report, August 31, 2026
  4. 04Donate directly through Brown County Humane Society