- Fairfax, Virginia resident Cynthia Morales was out on a walk with her two dogs, Charlie and Bruno, when they were run over by a driver who failed to stop at a stop sign.
- Morales sustained life-threatening injuries, Bruno had a leg fracture and other injuries while Charlie died on the spot.
- The Fairfax Community raised funds for Bruno’s treatment and has since recovered while a GoFundMe is raising funds for Morales’ continued treatment.
Cynthia Morales’ daily routine after work is to walk her two dogs, Charlie and Bruno in their neighborhood in Fairfax, Virginia.
According to her daughter, Adriana Pachaco, her mom and her dogs were on the sidewalk when a driver did not stop at a stop sign and headed straight, running over Morales and the two pups.
Morales was rushed to the Fairfax Health Department for life-threatening injuries. Charlie the 11-year-old, 25-pound Shih Tzu, died on the spot while 5-year-old, 15-pound Shih Tzu-poodle mix, Bruno, had to be brought to an emergency vet.
Reasa Currier, director of the Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering said that when she spoke with the veterinarian on the phone that was handling Bruno’s case, he was not doing well. Bruno had “a leg fracture, abrasions, and just a lot of bruising from being struck by the vehicle and hitting the pavement with so much force.” It was going to be a very expensive treatment.
She then contacted the nonprofit Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter, for help in raising money for Bruno. They take care of the financial needs of “animals in emergency situations where animals need extraordinary care.”
Within hours, $8,200 was raised by the organization.
Morales on the other hand has a broken sternum, multiple fractures in her skull, seven broken ribs on one side, eight broken ribs on the other and a punctured lung. Her speech is slurred and delayed due to a brain injury and her left side of the body has lost movement.
Pachaco says, “They’re hoping she’ll make a recovery. They don’t know. Doctors are hoping that with time and lots of therapy that she’ll be able to recover.”
For her recovery, a GoFundMe page has been set-up.
Pachaco is amazed at how her community has rallied behind them for both her mom and Bruno to cover their expenses.
Bruno has since made a full recovery and is now home. His recovery has been a positive influence on Morales who has been asking about her dogs daily.
Pachaco says, “Bruno’s the one that was the most attached to my mom. Bruno was literally her shadow. He followed her anywhere, to the bathroom, to the kitchen, anywhere she would move to, he would go. So I know him being away from my mom is super hard, probably on both of them.”
Thank you, Fairfax community!
Source: People