Abandoned, but Healing. Meet “Hot Mess” Benny.
By DJ Becker/The Madera News Warning: Photos May Be Disturbing. June 11, 2025
A starving, and seriously injured young dog was found just before dark on May 10th, collapsed, riddled with bullet holes, and struggling to survive on a rural road just south of Avenue 12, in The Madera Ranchos, California. X-rays revealed the emaciated, 11-pound dog was unable to walk due to being shot repeatedly with what appeared to be birdshot, fracturing both his front legs, with another shot entering his side, and his hind foot.
Residents commented that the shooting incident was extremely disturbing and questioned whether the helpless dog had been used for target practice or repeatedly shot in the legs as some kind of torture or for sick amusement. Intentionally abandoning or injuring an animal is a crime and considered felony animal cruelty under California law, Penal Code 597.1, punishable by fines up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail.
The Madera County Animal Shelter had reportedly refused to accept the dog and his four other littermates from an estate caretaker on April 25th, after the owner had died, according to representatives of the estate, potentially resulting in the five dogs being abandoned to fend for themselves for weeks in the area of the Madera Ranchos canal.
Social media sites (NextDoor and FB) are full of residents’ complaints that the Madera County Animal Control and Services Department is not doing its job, to pick up or accept the many unwanted, hungry, and collapsing stray dogs and cats found by or brought in by residents. Due to an apparent ongoing contract dispute, the Madera County animal shelter has not been accepting most animals from city residents or even city animal control officers for many months or longer. Residents claim they are being told to “chase the stray animals off their property or feed, take care of it, or handle it themselves.”
The friendly dog, now called “Hot Mess” Benny due to the severity of his many injuries, was found and picked up by Megan Bowe, of Bowe’s Animal Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue funded solely by donations in the Madera Ranchos. He was immediately taken to a veterinarian for emergency treatment. Two other starving young dogs believed to be littermates were also found in the area and rescued by Bowe. Both of Benny’s front legs are currently splinted to stabilize the bone fractures caused by the gunshots, according to Bowe, in the hope that some of the damaged bones may begin to heal. If not, the left front leg may have to be amputated, she said. “He would not have lasted much longer out in that orchard. But he wanted to live. He’s still fighting to live, so I’m not giving up on him.” Bowe said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up by Bowe’s Animal Rescue to provide ongoing veterinary care for Benny and to support other injured or abused animals found in Madera. https://www.gofundme.com/f/shot-and-shattered-help-benny-heal?lang=en_US&ts=1749593291&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp14_c-amp15_t3&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&attribution_id=sl%3A264333f2-556f-47e9-921b-76841759d2e7&v=amp14_c
An investigation into the circumstances of the dogs’ abandonment and shooting is ongoing with the Madera County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on the shooting and or situation of the dog is asked to call the Madera County Sheriff’s Department at (559) 675-7928. The dispatch line is answered 24/7.
Please note: This is a developing story. Photos provided by Megan Bowe. Additional photos, history and videos are available to follow Benny’s journey on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02oWQmtz23zuswLPKpaWt8EnAqYMcWAFmTeXKMro5B1y3ub1Gt879vq965qthoMDfJl&id=1647751978&mibextid=wwXIfr&_rdr.
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