No one enjoys hearing sad stories, especially when they involve a dog getting hurt. But one community in Fairfax, Virginia, is turning a terrible tragedy into a tale of hope. That’s because a Facebook fundraiser has amassed over $8,000 to help pay for emergency medical bills for a dog struck down in a hit-and-run car accident.
A Tragic Day
It all started around 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 when Cyntia Morales was on her usual after-work walking route with her two dogs. They were all meandering along on the sidewalk when a driver inexplicably drove right into Morales and her fur babies.
Morales’ 11-year-old Shih Tzu, Charlie, died on the spot. Her other pup, a Shih Tzu-Poodle mix named Bruno, was taken to an emergency vet by Animal Protection Police. As for Morales, she suffered life-threatening injuries, for which she was rushed to a local hospital.
A Glimmer of Hope
Bruno suffered a leg fracture. He was hospitalized for two days and underwent X-rays, an ultrasound, and blood work. He was also treated with pain medication.
Reasa Currier, the director of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, heard about how expensive Bruno’s treatment was. She contacted the Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter, a nonprofit that raises funds to care for animals in emergency situations. The nonprofit launched a fundraiser on Facebook, which netted an impressive $8,200 for Bruno’s veterinary care costs in only a few hours.
“It was amazing that all the community came together to help,” Adriana Pachaco, Morales’ 22-year-old daughter, told People. “I could never thank anyone enough for what they did for Bruno. It shows me there are still people that are willing to help and want to help. And it makes me feel so heart warmed that people are so selfless.”
The outpouring of financial support was above and beyond the $3,000 needed to pay for Bruno’s emergency medical bills, so the excess funds are being donated to Finnegan’s Fund, which assists animals in need of emergency care.
“It just shows you that no matter what, you can count on people to be there. This poor woman had such a devastating thing happen to her,” Evelyn Grieve, the president of the Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, told people. “They opened their hearts and said, ‘We’re here. We want to help.'”
Reuniting the Pair
To the delight of many, Bruno made a full recovery. He is now back home with Pachaco.
“Bruno did so great. We were all incredibly impressed with his resiliency,” Currier says.
Morales, however, is not faring so well. People reports that she has “seven broken ribs on one side, eight broken ribs on the other, a punctured lung, a broken sternum, and multiple fractures in her skull from the accident.” She has also suffered loss of mobility and has a brain injury that is causing delayed and slurred speech. A GoFundMe has been launched to help pay for her recovery.
Here’s hoping Morales can get back on her feet, too, and be reunited with her beloved Bruno.
