South Florida

Police Identify Suspect in Sarasota County Puppy Shooting

Police in Sarasota County say they've identified the person who shot and nearly killed an 8-month-old puppy in North Point, which is about an hour north of Fort Myers on South Florida's west coast, according to NBC affiliate WFLA.

Sami's owner, Pam Joint, told WFLA that she found Sami last week with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

"There are just evil people in this world sometimes and you can't rationalize what they do," Joint told WFLA.

After a series of extensive surgeries, Sami is at home recovering.

North Point police say the case is still under investigation and that no arrests have been made at this time.

The State Attorney's Office will ultimately decide whether to press charges. The suspect, if charged, could face a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty which carries a fine of up to $5,000.

A GoFundMe account has raised more than $5,000 for the dog's medical expenses.

The North Point Police Department and the Sarasota County Crime Stoppers are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information on the case.

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