ELKHART — The wound, hidden behind his playful demeanor and soulful eyes, is hard to see.

To see Tank the pit bull sit up and beg, to see him lunge for the outdoors, it’s hard to imagine that recently Tank had a 20-inch wooden spear stuck in his chest.

For veterinarian Sheila Hartnett, it’s even harder to believe that Tank is still alive.

When he first arrived at Hartnett Animal Hospital, Tank seemed to be a fairly normal 5-year-old dog.

Brought in by his owner, Tank had a small puncture wound just below his front shoulder. Even an X-ray didn’t show that something was seriously wrong.

But the wound, Hartnett learned from Tank’s owners, was the entry hole of a now broken wooden dowel with a point whittled on one end.

Eight inches of the spear were still inside Tank. The other 12 inches had already been broken off.

Elkhart police are still investigating the animal cruelty case, Lt. Ed Windbigler said, but no charges have been filed.

At first Hartnett, who works 70 hours a week at the animal hospital she opened last year, wasn’t sure what to do. Although she treats hundreds of dogs, few are victims of abuse.

The best option, she decided, was to euthanize the dog.

But looking into the face of the tail-wagging Tank, Hartnett — the owner of three pit bulls — decided to try surgery instead.

Only, she had never attempted such a delicate surgery before.

Most puncture wounds, Hartnett said, are 2 to 3 inches deep. Tank had an 8-inch wound that went through the chest cavity and under the heart.

The surgery, however, went smoothly. Hartnett was able to remove the wooden rod without causing any major bleeding.

Tank responded well. A week after the surgery, except for some hair shaved off his midsection, it’s almost impossible to know what Tank has gone through.

He sits and begs for treats. He sniffs and explores his human companions. He wags his tail constantly.

But his future, Hartnett said, is unknown.

On Wednesday, Tank’s owners relinquished custody to Hartnett. She hopes to find a family to adopt him out to, but realizes the right one may be hard to find.

Tank, although friendly to people, has shown aggression toward dogs. He can only be adopted to a family without another dog.

Hartnett said it might be difficult for Tank to find a home because many people are afraid of pit bulls — a fear, she says, caused more by cruel owners than the breed itself.

But looking into Tank’s friendly face, Hartnett said she knows she’ll find him the perfect family.

“You just need to find the right home, don’t you Tank,” Hartnett said. “Someplace safe.”