A female dog in Florida that was tied in a rail and shot on Wednesday survived the ordeal and is now in stable condition, according to local police.

Tampa Police got three calls on Thursday afternoon from callers who said they heard gunshots.

The callers also heard the whimper of a dog which they traced to the rail tracks.

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Tied to the tracks by a belt was a mixed-breed female dog with a gunshot wound on its neck and right shoulder.

The police officers immediately called the train operator to stop any incoming traffic while they freed the poor animal.

The cops then brought the wounded dog to a veterinarian, who found bullet fragments throughout the dog's body, requiring the amputation of the animal's right front leg.

The veterinarian could perform the surgery on Thursday night or Friday.

Mike Lord, the veterinary doctor who is caring for Cabela - the name given by the officers to the animal - said that she is now eating and drinking and in good spirits.

No one among the three callers had seen a person with a gun or was aware that the dog was injured. This led the cops to seek public assistance for anyone with any more information about the incident to come forward and help the Tampa Police solve the crime.

Sgt. Gary Coller, one of the responding officers, said that tips are coming in and it is leading to the right direction.

To help track faster the person responsible for the torture of the animal, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay set up a US$2,500 reward for anyone who could provide information that would lead to the identity and arrest of the person responsible, according to Kelowna Now.

After the dog recovers from her ordeal, she is expected to be adopted.

TagsDog, animal cruelty