The German shepherd allegedly shot by his owners in Derby is still recovering after he needed to have a front leg and shoulder blade amputated due to the damage from the bullets. The dog, who police said is named Thunda, is under 24-hour care at VCA Shoreline in Shelton. It's estimated he's between eight months and a little over a year old. Police said he's improving every day, now eating on his own and taking medicine. They told News 12 Thunda has a long road ahead, but veterinary staff call him a fighter.

Police found him in Coon Hollow Park after responding to a 911 call about an injured dog around 2 a.m. Friday. Police said the caller was Stranja Perrin, 28. They found her and Anthony Singletary, 27, in their car with their two young kids.

"They just reported they were up there and found the dog. It looked like it had been hit by a car is what they said," Derby police Lt. Justin Stanko said.

Police later learned the couple owned a male German shepherd, despite them denying they even had a dog. Their investigation determined they'd recently become homeless and were living out of their car. Police said surveillance footage put the car in the area at the time of the shooting, and a search of it found two 9 mm weapons legally owned by Perrin. Police said the ammunition was consistent with 10 casings found at the scene.

"The guns went to the lab and we're waiting on ballistics testing to compare those from the slugs in the dog, and the shell casings at the scene," Stanko told News 12.

Police arrested Perrin and Singletary Friday. They were arraigned in Derby Superior Court Monday. Perrin is charged with conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of a firearm, conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals, conspiracy to commit first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of risk of injury to a child. Singletary, who police said is a convicted felon, is charged with criminal possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of a firearm, conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals, conspiracy to commit first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of risk of injury to a child. The judge set Singletary's bond at $125,000 and Perrin's at $75,000 and ruled if they post bond, they cannot have pets.

Police said neither has prior animal cruelty charges. They also said the two kids were placed with family members. At this point, police don't have a motive.

"To date, they've actually denied even owning the dog," Stanko said.

The community has rallied around Thunda. News 12 is told adoption and foster requests have poured in but are on hold for now pending some legal matters in the criminal case. A GoFundMe campaign to help Shelton Animal Control pay for the expected medical expenses had already raised $15,000 Tuesday.

"Amazing! I've not seen anything like it," Stanko said.

RiverWalk Social Bar and Restaurant in Derby is holding a fundraiser event Thursday to help cover Thunda’s vet bills. Twenty percent of all sales for the entire day will go to the Shelton Animal Shelter.