A young dog is lucky to be alive after she was struck by a Massachusetts commuter train just over a week ago. The one-year-old Shih Tzu, dubbed “Charlie,” was discovered by a maintenance worker who found her lying motionless on the rails between the Forest Hills and Roslindale Village stops on September 15, reported MSPCA-Angell via a press release.
It is a miracle that Charlie survived – medical staff who initially evaluated her stated that she was “in pieces” when she arrived. Dr. Virginia Sinnott of Angell’s Emergency and Critical Care Unit stated, “It’s just astounding this dog survived, her left hind leg was severed above the knee—the good Samaritan brought the leg in along with the dog—and the nerves, arteries and veins were severed along with it.”
Had Charlie not been rushed to the emergency veterinary center, she would have bled to death – as it was, even with prompt attention, she was in shock and had already lost 40 percent of her blood volume.
The severely injured dog underwent surgery on Friday to amputate her badly damaged leg – her heavily damaged pelvis was also treated. Charlie had to receive two blood transfusions due to her excessive blood loss.
Thanks to MSPCA’s Pet Care Assistance Program, the injured dog’s $6000 surgery was covered. Anyone interested in helping Charlie, and dogs like her, can click here to find the fund’s donation page.
MSPCA-Angell stated:
Charlie had no identification tags and, as of today’s expiration of the city’s mandatory seven-day stray dog hold, no one has claimed her. The good Samaritan who brought her to the MSPCA said he was part of a maintenance crew performing repairs on the tracks at the time, and had no idea how she could have gotten so close to the trains.
Find MSPCA-Angell on Facebook here.
Poor baby. Thank goodness she was found in time. I hope she can now find the perfect home for the rest of her life.
Such a bitty little dog to survive such a terrible accident. I’m glad she is ready for a good home.