The Boston terrier found bloodied on Hamilton Mill Road near Buford last week is recovering well from multiple surgeries and could go to his new adopted home next week.
Jamie Contreras, 29, saw the dog on her way to work a week ago. His head was poking out of a garbage bag when she passed, and by the time she turned around he had gotten out from under the bag.
Contreras assumed the dog, who now goes by "Rocky," had been thrown onto the roadway. Gwinnett County police now say the dog was hit by a vehicle.
The driver "stated that the dog ran in front of her vehicle. She got out of the vehicle and checked on the canine and a second party stopped to help," police said. "They saw the dog was badly injured, placed the dog on a garbage bag and called Animal Control. Ms. Contreras arrived shortly after they left and saw the dog lying on top of the bag. She assumed the dog was thrown from a vehicle based on the garbage bag.
"No one has come forward to claim ownership of the dog."
By the time Animal Control arrived, Contreras and another Good Samaritan, Les Burgess, had taken the dog to Animal Hospital of North Gwinnett. The 3-year-old dog had a ruptured right eye, and much of his skin was torn off.
When AJC readers learned of the situation, they immediately flooded the hospital with calls wanting to help. They donated more than $1,600 worth of treatment costs.
"It was really overwhelming," said Contreras, an insurance agent from Winder. "I witnessed it all day, the phone calls and people coming in. One lady came in crying as she donated."
Contreras' friend, who already has two rescue dogs, will adopt Rocky.
How did Rocky get his name?
"The vet started to call him Rock Star because of all the attention he was getting, then Rocky stuck, like Rocky Balboa," Contreras said. "He gets beat up and knocked down but gets up and fights like a champ."
Contreras said Rocky "has just been my life" the last week.
"I go every morning to see him on my way to work and on my way home I stop every day," she said. "He has just engulfed my life. And I'm very, very grateful to your readers."
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