Mastiff shot twice, left in Cleveland Heights park has new home

CLEVELAND - The mastiff that was shot twice and left chained to a tree in a Cleveland Heights park now has a new home.

The dog, which was named Forrest by animal rescue workers, suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and jaw while in Forest Hill Park in November. Forrest stayed there overnight in freezing temperatures before a dog walker spotted him.

"I mean, really, to shoot any living thing and leave it chained to die. The whole thing is sort of beyond my comprehension," said Dee Shedlow, who found the dog.

“It’s been a long, difficult road for Forrest, but after all he’s been through, he’s still such a lovable bull mastiff,” said Amy Beichler, executive director of the Public Animal Welfare Society of Ohio, of PAWS.

Seventy local people applied to adopt Forrest and he will now have a home in Solon. PAWS said his new family live on 10 acres of land, so the pup will have plenty of space.

As for the man accused of shooting the dog, Raymone Clements of Cleveland was indicted on gun charges. PAWS volunteers and supports of Nitro’s Law plan to attend his arraignment on Jan. 18.