SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - A firefighter and his daughter found a brutally injured dog all alone and in need of help. Now vets are determined to bring him back to good health.
An animal hospital in Kendall is currently caring for the dog, named Phantom. He underwent surgery, but his scars tell his rough tale. “I think he’s gonna be OK. He was probably hit by a car,” said Dr. Cecelia Gordon with Crossroads Animal Hospital. “You could see the muscles on his skull were detached on this side, so we had to reattach those.”
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. Jeff Fobb was off duty when he and his daughter spotted Phantom. “With an injury like that, it’ll probably be really unpleasant,” he said.
Fobb told 7News they were at a Marathon gas station in the Redlands. “She went inside to pay, and when she came out, this poor little dog was following her,” he said.
“It was in really bad shape. It was missing a lot of skin off of its head,” said Keira Fobb, who found the dog. “We couldn’t just let it sit there, you know.”
Helping out others is embedded in the family. “I’m a fire captain, my wife is a firefighter,” he said. “It’s what we’ve done our whole lives.”
Since the Fobbs found Phantom, there is some good news for him. “I was actually able to head right over,” said Jennifer Alvarez with Just Jacks Animal Rescue. “I actually was with him while he was having surgery.”
Aaron Idiaquez signed up to provide foster care once the pup recovers. “Hopefully he adjusts well,” he said.
Idiaquez and Alvarez rushed to be with Phantom after he was found by the Fobb family. “Those are fabulous people,” Gordon said. “They’re people with hearts. They genuinely care about the animals.”
Gordon said she is going to do whatever she can to help get Phantom back to being a healthy, happy puppy. “He’s gonna heal up, get adopted. He’ll get adopted really quickly,” she said.
As for the Fobbs, they’re just happy to have helped Phantom in whatever way they could. “It’s just pretty easy, and the person we took it to, another firefighter, they’re people that just constantly give back to the community,” Fobb said.
Phantom is currently getting the treatment he needs to recover. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
Just Jacks Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit organization who has been caring for Phantom since his accident.
To make a donation to help pay for Phantom’s medical costs, you can donate through PayPal using the email Justjacksrescue@gmail.com, or you can call in donations directly to Crossroads Animal Hospital at (305)-279-2000.
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