Click the play button on the video window to the see the storyA six-week-old puppy is on the mend in Anthem, after being thrown out of a moving car.
Three weeks ago, a passerby on I-17 noticed a car pulling over to the side of the road. Someone inside tossed a puppy into the median.
The passerby picked up the dog and contacted
Anthem Pets, an area rescue group.
"He was in so much pain, I thought his back was broken," said Karen Brunette, a volunteer who fostered the dog.
The dog, named "Lucky," had a severe leg injury and needed surgery.
Volunteers said one veterinarian recommended euthanasia. But another vet at
Desert Hills Animal Clinic offered to do the surgery for a reduced price.
"When anything like this happens, most of the veterinarians are going to feel bad about what happened and want to help the dog out in any way possible," said Dr. Brian Neidigh, the vet who performed the surgery.
Neidigh said the dog still has pins in his leg and will need some follow-up treatment, but will eventually be OK.
Meantime, volunteers have already raised hundreds of dollars to pay for Lucky's veterinary care.
"The phone didn't stop ringing," Brunette said, after Anthem Pets put out an email alert to volunteers and supporters.
Meantime, the person who threw the dog out the window is still out there.
Anthem Pets volunteers say it happens more often than you might think.
"Unfortunately, it's becoming more and more common," said Michell Roig, of Anthem Pets. "When the economy goes south, people are really abusing their animals. They're not really thinking. They become desperate and don't know what to do."
Lucky will be put up for adoption in the near future.
Anyone interested in providing a good home for Lucky, or other pets in need, should contact
Anthem Pets on their website or call
480-287-3542.
