His dad sat beside him and cried out for someone to help.
Not all heroes wear capes. While some families might shy away at the sight of tragedy, one couple turned toward it and saved the day. Merlin, the 160-pound Irish wolfhound, was the victim of a hit-and-run in South Carolina. His father, Zachary Corrado, sat next to him, calling for help.
Drew Kreiling and his wife Sharon Chuduakowski-Kreiling happened to be in the right place at the right time. They saw that the dog was hit by a car, so they drove over to block the road to protect him. Then, they went above and beyond to offer the dog the medical aid and funds he needed.
Corrado often walked Merlin on the beach without a leash, as it’s allowed there. There has never been any problem before this incident. But that night, when Merlin saw a fox, he was gone. Corrado tried to urge his dog to settle down, but Merlin was in the road before he could stop him.
A truck ran into Merlin, braked suddenly, and sped away on the other hand. Drew and Sharon witnessed the horrific event and sped to Corrado and Merlin as quickly as they might . The dog was in critical condition and had low odds of surviving. But Corrado, an entire stranger to the couple, searched at them and begged for help. He said Merlin was his ally and he couldn’t let him die.
As dog parents, the couple know how important this is. When Corrado put pressure on the wound, other bystanders came to help. Drew and Sharon were quick-minded and helped Merlin get into the back of a pickup truck and called the nearest veterinarian for help. “I knew time was of the essence. You know, I didn’t know if this dog was getting to live, to be honest with you,” said Sharon.
With the help of many kind strangers, Corrado, Drew and Sharon expressed their gratitude to the Strand Animal Emergency Hospital. Thankfully, they gave the green light all the way and they succeeded because Merlin continued to fight for his life.
Vets need to work on Merlin’s conditions, but ultimately, the quick-thinking saved his life. In the hospital, they basically had to rebuild his leg and put a steel plate on his shoulder. But at least he is ready to walk again after this tragic incident.
“He had a plate, a pin put through his whole humerus, 16 screws and two wires to carry the entire thing together,” Corrado said. “It took upwards of six hours with two surgeons and two assistants.”
However, such procedures are not cheap. Corrado had to take out his credit card to hide the $9,500 fee. But Sharon and Drew often stop by the vet to see Merlin, and they can see how much Corrado is willing to pay for his dog. So, the couple created a Facebook fundraiser that raised enough funds for him to pay off his debt.
Merlin is now in good physical condition and has recovered for a day.day. NoNo one should escape after hurting an innocent dog, but Corrado also learned his lesson. Keeping your dog leashed is vital, regardless of how well-behaved your canine is. Corrado and Merlin are going to be more cautious in the future to make sure that something like this never happens again.