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Rescue dog that was shot, abandoned needs loving home after remarkable recovery: 'Hard to believe'

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Updated  January 10, 2025 11:38pm EST
Brevard County
FOX 35 Orlando

Dog recovering one month after being shot

A dog named Zola, who was allegedly shot in the head by her owners, is on the road to recovery one month after the incident.

The Brief

    • Zola, a dog rescued by Daytona Beach police after being shot and abandoned, is recovering with the help of Brevard County’s Karma’s Haven Animal Rescue.
    • Her former owner was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, claiming he shot Zola for being aggressive.
    • Despite her trauma, Zola is friendly and energetic but needs a new owner who is willing to support her recovery and training.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A dog shot in the face and left to rot in a urine-soaked blanket is on the road to recovery.

Daytona Beach police first rescued Zola back in November. Police arrested her owner, Douglas Matney, for animal cruelty. 

The mission to help the abused dog is now crossing county lines in Central Florida. She was found shot and covered in burns in Volusia County, and now a Brevard County-based rescue is doing all they can to make sure she recovers from her trauma. 

"The stuff that she’s went through, it’s hard to believe anyone would do this to this dog," said Zola’s current foster mom, Leticia Lapp.

Zola was saved by Daytona Beach Police back on Nov. 29. Officers found her on 884 S. Nova Rd. Her foster mom says she was "shot and had been left in a urine-stained blanket for possible — up to a week or two — with no access to food and water."

Police arrested Matney after finding the dog. He told officers he shot her because she had been aggressive. Police still charged him with animal cruelty.

"A lot of these dogs have resource guarding issues, abuse issues. They’re terrified. They’re scared," said Jessie Paige who founded Karma’s Haven Animal Rescue Inc. 

Paige immediately took Zola in. She leads the animal rescue.

"If you get any gunshot victims, send them to me right away," said Paige, who has a soft spot for dogs that are shot and viciously abused. 

Paige knew Zola needed a lot of support and asked the Lapp family to help her heal. They've been fostering dogs for more than 20 years. 

"We love Zola. She’s extremely friendly. She’s lovely," said Lapp. 

She loves chasing snacks, but because of her abuse she still struggles to walk. 

Her back legs give out sometimes, and she has to use a scooter. Also, she can’t always control her excitement and still has accidents. Because of her trauma, she's also skittish around new people.

After a few minutes, she warmed up to us and just wants to be loved.

Zola is still looking for her forever home. Her foster mom says she would fit in with a family that loves an energetic dog and has children older than 5.

Lapp says a perfect fit would be someone who has "a lot of patience and understanding of her situation who’s willing to take the extra mile to do some proper training."

Karma’s Haven wants to make sure she ends up with the right family. If you’re interested in learning more about Zola or submitting an application, reach out to the rescue on their Facebook by clicking HERE or email them at: karmashavenrescue@gmail.com

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Daytona Beach Police Department, Karma’s Haven Animal Rescue, Zola's foster mom.

Brevard CountyPets and Animals