In Texas, a tiny one-month-old puppy named Tommy was tossed out of a moving truck. A passerby who witnessed the cruel act immediately alerted animal services. The injured puppy was rushed to an emergency clinic for overnight treatment.
Tommy had suffered head trauma, causing him to have seizures. He was transferred to Austin Animal Services the next morning, and later to Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) as an urgent medical case.
Despite all the trauma he has endured so early in life, Tommy is staying strong. He has been eating well and even showed signs of being a playful puppy.
The medical team has tied tiny bells to Tommy’s collar as a way to signal any seizure episodes. Currently, Tommy is being treated with pain relief and anti-seizure medication, as well as standard puppy care.
“Though there may be some individuals in the community who make choices that cause pain, we’re grateful that there are more well-intentioned and loving people who join us in standing up for those who need us,” APA! stated.
Tommy’s story unfolds against the backdrop of growing challenges faced by animal shelters across the nation.
Between January and June, approximately 2.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues in the United States, according to 2025 data from Shelter Animals Count. Believe it or not, that is a 4% drop from the previous year.
Still, shelters are overwhelmed, with more animals entering than leaving them. Adoptions have declined, so animals like Tommy are at risk.
Sadly, Tommy is not the first animal that was rescued after being thrown from a moving truck. Earlier this year, another puppy was flung into the street in Los Angeles.
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Additionally, in May, a woman saw a dog being launched out of a car in Dallas. She took the dog to the vet, where a microchip revealed that he had been adopted in February. The woman ended up adopting the dog herself after being unable to reach the previous owners.
America is also not the only place where dogs are tossed from moving vehicles. A dog in the United Kingdom survived being thrown from a truck and was adopted by a loving family in 2022.
As for Tommy, things are looking up, and he is on a steady journey of healing. The cream-colored puppy is now ready to move into a foster home.
In a post on Facebook, APA! made an update on Tommy’s state of health. Many people in the comments section were outraged by the cruelty inflicted upon Tommy and hoped for the pup’s full recovery.
“I just can’t with humans torturing innocent animals! They should be ashamed and hope karma finds them. Sending prayers and love for the sweet angel and those you’ve saved. Thank you to whoever found him,” commented one person.
“Terrible what some folks do to these animals that are loyal. Praying for his full recovery and no more issues of seizures,” declared another.
“I hope somebody got the tag number of that car and reported them! I wish I were young and healthy enough to take this baby! Praying for a forever home and loads of love for this baby!” exclaimed a third.
You can check out the post here.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
