January 31, 2016
Ivory Poinsett /GoFundMe
Rhino, a boxer-pitbull mix, is recovering after he was shot trying to defend his owner during a home invasion in Philadelphia. The dog's owner, Nakia Pyatt, was killed during the incident.
A woman is caring for her brother's dog after her sibling was slain during a home invasion in Philadelphia earlier this month.
According to CBSPhilly, Ivory Poinsett took in Rhino, a 7-month-old boxer-pitbull mix, after the pet's owner, Nakia Pyatt, was shot to death in his Frankford home on Jan. 16.
Rhino was hit with a bullet while trying to protect Pyatt, 41, during the fatal break-in. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that after the crime, the dog laid under Pyatt's bed for six hours before being discovered by homicide detectives.
While Poinsett is obviously upset by the loss of her brother, she views Rhino as a new member of her family of five. From the Daily News:
"If I can't have my brother, I can have his other best friend," Poinsett said. "At least he left his dog to take care of us."
Saving Rhino was originally expected to be an expensive task. Poinsett was previously told by veterinarians that the dog would need a $3,000 bullet removal surgery.
But thanks to several grateful donors, she was able to raise $2,800 on a GoFundMe campaign, and it looks as if Rhino may not need the surgery after all.
Poinsett updated the fundraiser page Saturday with a post that said veterinarians cleared Rhino as healthy and the dog won't need to undergo the procedure unless the bullet, which remains lodged in his groin, begins to bother him.
The money will go towards the puppy's rehabilitation and future medical bills while police continue to search for his owner's killer.
As of Saturday, no arrests had been made.
