Crime & Safety
Gwinnett Deputy Saves Canine Hit-And-Run Victim
A Georgia sheriff's deputy was on his way to work when he saw a truck hit a dog and drive off. He immediately stopped to help.
DACULA, GA — A Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy saved an injured dog he saw get hit by a truck on the road by Old Freeman Mill and Winder Highway in Dacula on Saturday. Now, the sheriff's office is asking the public's help in paying for an expensive surgery the pup now needs.
Deputy Black was on his way to work around 6 a.m. Saturday when he saw the hit-and-run, the sheriff's office said in the Facebook post. He immediately stopped and moved the injured dog to safety and "nearly getting struck by a car himself," the post said.
Due to the danger, Black called dispatch who sent a police unit for visibility so he could focus on helping the dog. "Deputy Black is a great guy and I’m not at all surprised that he put himself in harm’s way at a busy intersection in the darkness at the crack of dawn to help a dog that he knew was injured," Deputy Shannon Volkodav of the sheriff's office told Patch.
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Officer MD Davis with the Gwinnett Police Department arrived. The two loaded the pup into Davis' cruiser so Black could report for duty.
Unfortunately, Black wasn't able to get the license plate number of the truck that hit the dog. However, "there's that whole karma thing, so maybe that driver will be held accountable one day for being so callous about injuring an innocent animal," the Facebook post said.
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The staff at the sheriff's department named the dog "Tank," who's got a home in the Gwinnett Jail Dogs Program. Sadly, Tank now needs hip replacement surgery which will cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
"We really need donations to help pay for this surgery," Volkodav said. "That’s a LOT of money for our program."
Click here to donate to Tank's surgery
"Every dollar donated counts and will be greatly appreciated. We'll be sure to keep you posted on Tank's progress. We want to see this handsome, sweet boy restored to good health and in a happy home as soon as possible. Help us make that happen!" Jail Dogs said in a Facebook post.
Article images Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office
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