Seattle dog needs surgery after bullets from 2024 shooting
Judah, who took two shots to protect his owner during a domestic violence incident, now faces a procedure to remove shifted fragments from his head.
By Rahul Sato ·
A seven-year-old dog in Seattle requires urgent surgery to remove bullet fragments from his head. The dog, named Judah, was shot twice in November 2024 while protecting his owner from a domestic violence incident. Veterinarians say the fragments have shifted position, creating a risk of permanent brain damage or vision loss if they are not removed now.
Lauren Wiggins was attempting to leave her home in November 2024 when her ex-fiancé grabbed a gun. He shot Wiggins in the leg. Judah attacked the man and was struck in the head and shoulder. Wiggins said she was hit by two extra shots because of the dog's intervention. "If I had gotten two extra shots to me, I would’ve died that night," Wiggins said. She described feeling guilt for a time because Judah felt the need to save her. Wiggins is now paralyzed from the knee down on her right leg and uses an orthotic device to walk.
At the time of the initial shooting, veterinarians advised leaving the bullet fragments lodged in Judah’s head. They determined that extraction was too dangerous to perform immediately. Recently, Judah developed swelling in his head. A veterinarian confirmed that the fragments have moved. Wiggins explained the medical risk. "If the fragments that have already shifted kept on moving around, it could go to his brain," Wiggins said. "It could affect his eyes, and I don’t want that to happen to him. He doesn’t deserve that."
Wiggins is raising funds to cover the steep veterinary costs for the upcoming procedure and post-operative recovery. She has established a GoFundMe campaign for this purpose. Wiggins described the dog as her lifeline. "Without him, I probably would’ve crumbled and fallen apart," Wiggins said. "He really is my soul dog, he’s literally everything to me."
Court documents from Wiggins' case were reviewed as part of the reporting. The GoFundMe campaign is currently active to support Judah's medical treatment. No specific date for the surgery was provided in the available information. The dog’s owner continues to seek community assistance to complete the care plan.
Source: KZJO
