An animal rights group is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the shooting of a six-month old beagle.

According to Shelby County Animal Control Officer Donald Kendrick, the puppy was shot in the head and left to die near Highways 62 and 85 in Vincent around July 5. While the dog survived the shotgun blast, she lost an eye and needed multiple operations to remove buckshot and repair skull fractures.

Kendrick said he found the dog hiding, fearful and with a &8220;horrific&8221; head wound. The officer said that animals with such severe injuries are usually euthanized; however, in this case, he said the dog was too friendly to put down.

&8220;She is a real sweetheart, even when hurt she showed no aggression,&8217; said Kendrick. &8220;There was no justification for this.&8221;

Kendrick took the beagle to Chelsea Animal Hospital for treatment under Dr. Greg Kelley. The puppy later received a prosthetic eye courtesy of the Veterinary Eye Care clinic in Birmingham.

The dog, now named Annie, was adopted into a home through the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Kendrick said at his last update she was &8220;doing really well.&8221;

The reward is being offered by the California-based United Animal Nations, the country&8217;s leading provider of emergency animal sheltering and disaster relief.

UAN became aware of the case when representatives from its Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) program were in Birmingham to train volunteers who want to care for animals displaced by disasters.

&8220;When our friends at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society told us about Annie, we stepped in with this reward hoping that whoever is responsible for this senseless act of cruelty can be caught and punished,&8221; said Nicole Forsyth, UAN president and CEO.

Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call Officer Kendrick at 669-8766