PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Police are searching for suspects in a case of animal cruelty.

A dog was shot with a gun and left on the porch to die. Now, after surgery, that dog is back home recovering. And Pittsburgh Crime Stoppers is offering a reward to help find the person who shot it.

It was a happy reunion Wednesday between Sydnee Napper and her 2-year-old pit bull, Wolfie. It’s a day she didn’t think would come.

“My kids are sitting at home, waiting,” said Napper. “They’re saying, ‘When’s Wolfie coming home? When’s Wolfie coming home?’”

On Saturday, police found the dog on the front porch of a house on Marshall Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Marshall-Shadeland neighborhood with a gunshot wound to his chest.

He was losing blood fast, so police loaded him into their cruiser and rushed him to an emergency veterinarian.

“The officers decided to immediately transport that dog to a veterinary hospital for treatment in lieu of destroying the dog at the scene,” said Pittsburgh Police Lt. Kevin Kraus.

Humane officers have been back in the neighborhood interviewing witnesses. They believe someone saw what happened.

“This upset the whole neighborhood,” said Kathy Hecker, of Animal Friends. “This was a friendly, family pet. It was not aggressive, was well-known to the neighbors as being owned and loved very much by the family.”

The family hopes the shooter is caught. For now, they’re just happy to have Wolfie back home.

“Extremely grateful to the Pittsburgh police,” added Napper.

The Pittsburgh Crime Stoppers number is 412-255-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

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