South Austin Firefighters Come To The Rescue Of Man And Beast

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- Sometimes, it's not just humans that firefighters rush to rescue.

A dog hit by a car in South Austin on Tuesday is expected to make a full recovery thanks to quick action of Austin Fire Department crews who transported the animal to an emergency veterinary clinic.

Fire Department officials conveyed the drama of the rescue on their Facebook page. It happened after fire crews were called to the scene of a collision at Barton Springs and Riverside.

"As they arrive, our crews are told that the driver of the truck involved, and who was injured, had left the scene in pursuit of his dog who escaped the truck and left at a high rate of speed," fire department officials wrote.

A bystander alerted firefighters that the dog had been hit by a car while the owner was looking for the pet. The first responders on Engine 1 located the hurt animal and its owner, they said.

"Engine 1 finds both in a parking lot--the dog suffering some rather messy head/face lacerations, and the owner, although needing care and evaluation, is more concerned with the dog," they wrote. "Engine 1 was able to gain the owner's trust by assuring him that they would look after the dog so he could be transported."

Using the same techniques they would on a human patient, firefighters acted quickly to treat the dog's injuries.

"Our crews dressed the dog's wounds, located a nearby emergency vet clinic, and transported the dog in the engine the several blocks there," they wrote. "The owner was contacted by our crew, who told him where the animal would be, as well as his condition, made sure all parties were okay with the arrangement, and passed the owner's information on to the vet's office.

It sounds sad, but there's a happy ending. The man's best friend -- though bruised and battered -- is on the way to recovery.

"We're happy to report that the dog and his owner are both expected to make full recoveries," firefighters wrote. "Just another example of the kind of commitment and dedication to service you see every day from the awesome men and women of the Austin Fire Department!"

>>> Photo courtesy of Chief Mike Frick, Austin Fire Department