Community members came together to cover the surgical costs for a dog who suffered serious injuries when she either jumped or was thrown from a moving vehicle in Avon on Tuesday.
Avon animal control officials said the dog was thrown from a vehicle on Route 44 in the area of Petco and Puerto Vallarta at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Wednesday that they believe the dog either jumped or was thrown from a blue SUV.
The dog — a 1-year-old Lhasa Apso puppy that authorities have begun calling "Amelia Airheart" — broke her pelvis in four places and required surgery, officials said.
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Although the dog was put on pain medication, animal control officials said on Tuesday that a "surgery decision must be made by morning."
"Decisions like this are never easy, but I’m going to do all I can to try to save this girl‘s life," authorities said in a Facebook post Tuesday night. "She deserved better and never asked for anything but love."
According to animal control, surgically repairing Amelia Airheart's injuries would cost between $5,000 and $6,000.
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Within hours, the community began coming together to help fund Amelia Airheart's surgery.
Enough donations came in Tuesday to cover the majority of the dog's surgery costs, and by Wednesday, animal control officials said her surgery had been fully funded.
"'Amelia Airheart' is getting her surgery!" officials said.
The dog went into surgery Wednesday afternoon and "pulled through ... beautifully," officials said.
Avon police are still looking for surveillance footage from local businesses or people who were in the area of West Avon Road and Route 44 around the time of the incident.
Anyone with any information pertaining to the incident is asked to call the Avon Police Department at (860) 409-4200 and ask to speak with Animal Control Officer Angela Grano.
