Nathan Overholser was at the farm when they found the dog. He had no idea that two months later, that same dog would be sleeping in his house.
That’s how Sully’s story ends. The beginning is harder to read.
Found in a Field, Two to Four Days After the Shooting
On July 15, a brown mixed-breed dog was found near Cedar Drive and Maple Road in the Town of Maple Grove, Shawano County. He was roughly 35 pounds and about 8 years old.
Authorities believe the injuries happened two to four days before he was found. He had been lying in that field alone the entire time.
What the Vets Found
The initial exam showed eight gunshot wounds and a broken leg. By July 20, a ninth wound was discovered that had been missed.
He also had broken ribs, heavy bruising around his stomach, and signs consistent with being kicked.
The Shawano County Humane Society named him Sunny and got him into surgery. Pam Nowak, the humane society’s executive director, put it simply: “He still wants to live. He’s still here, and he’s still fighting.”
The Man Who Was Already There
As We Are Green Bay reported on Sully’s adoption, Overholser was present at the farm when the dog was discovered. He and his co-workers visited Sunny during recovery and watched him fight back.
He told his wife, Emily Pease, about the dog. It didn’t take long after that.
They adopted him and gave him a new name: Sully.
The man who saw him at his worst is now the one who feeds him every morning.
Have you ever formed a bond with an animal during a hard moment like this? Tell me in the comments.
The Case Is Still Open
No one has been arrested. As of July 23, authorities reported no new leads. The Center for a Humane Economy and the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Under Wisconsin Statute 951.02, intentional animal cruelty resulting in mutilation or disfigurement is a Class I felony. Nine gunshot wounds and broken bones qualify.
Accountability in animal care matters just as much inside a clinic. A Cedar City family lost their dog when a vet allegedly gave the wrong injection, and that case is still unresolved too.
Anyone with information can still contact the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office at (715) 526-3111.
Why This Matters
Sully is safe. But the person who did this is still out there.
According to the FBI’s animal cruelty tracking report, the FBI added animal cruelty as a separate crime category in its national reporting system in 2016, partly because research has consistently linked animal violence to broader patterns of human violence.
Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project director Eilene Ribbens said it directly in July: “A person capable of this level of cruelty to an innocent animal also poses a threat to our community.”
Sometimes the difference is one person noticing in time like the Pasadena firefighter who found a dog unconscious under a table in a burning home and carried him out before it was too late.
When two dogs were trapped in a Tempe canal with no way out, officers acted fast and both made it home. Sully’s story needed that same thing someone who looked closely enough to notice.
Key Takeaways
- Sully was found July 15 with nine gunshot wounds, a broken leg, and broken ribs in Shawano County.
- He survived surgery and was adopted by Nathan Overholser and Emily Pease.
- The investigation is still open; no arrests have been reported.
- Tips can be reported to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office at (715) 526-3111.
From That Field to a Forever Home
Two months. Nine wounds. One man who happened to be there and couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Sully is home now. The case isn’t closed.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Details are based on public reports and may change.