Puppy Rescued After Found With Arrow Lodged in Neck

— -- A county animal service department in North Carolina was shocked and heartbroken when staff members responded to a call Wednesday and found a stray puppy with an arrow lodged through her neck.

Angela Davis, the director of Madison County Animal Services, told ABC News today that in her nine years of working in animal services, this is "by far one of the saddest cases of animal cruelty" she has ever seen.

Davis and her team took the puppy to the Appalachian Animal Hospital, where the mixed-breed underwent emergency surgery and stayed overnight. Davis turned to the community to raise funds for the stray pup's hospital bills and raised over $1,000 in less than 24 hours. Today, Davis said the puppy, who was named Grace, is happily recovering with a foster family.

"We were all in the office when we were loading her in the truck and we were trying to come up with a name real quick," Davis explained. "Several of us said, 'It is by the grace of God that she is even alive,' so Grace stuck."

She added: "The arrow missed all vital organs. They say she will be able to make a full recovery."

Davis noted that police are investigating the incident.

"The sheriff’s department is investigating some leads. What we know right now is that they do have a lead," she said.

Investigators with the sheriff's department did not immediately respond to ABC News request for comment.

Davis said many community members have offered to give Grace a forever home.

"We just appreciate everybody’s outpouring of support," Davis said. "That is a testament to our community and the animal lovers across the country."

Davis wrote an update on the crowdfunding page she started to raise money for Grace's surgery, saying the donations have exceeded the cost of surgery and offered to give refunds. The community has been asking about Grace's recovery, she added.

"She has a long road ahead of her as she is undersocialized and all of this care and attention she is receiving is a shock to her system," Davis wrote. "With time she will learn that not all people are bad and she will learn to trust. Thank you all again for rooting for sweet Grace."