Justin Reven, 58, of Indian Hills, Colo., said he was driving in the area when he saw two boxers attacking the small dog.
Reven stopped his car and created a diversion to scare the larger dogs, and was almost attacked himself, he said.
"I am a dog lover," said Reven, a contractor who has homes in San Elizario and Colorado. "It was just horrible. Two boxers were just throwing him around like he was a rag doll. At first I thought they were playing with a rug or something. The two dogs were playing tug of war with him. They were trying to kill him."
Reven said he ran at the two boxers and screamed at them until they ran away.
"The little dog ran in my truck right away," Reven said. "I thought he was dying. But he got closer to me. I think he trusted me."
Reven stopped at a veterinarian's office, where he was told to take the dog to an animal shelter in Northeast El Paso.
"I got lost, and the shelter was closed," he said. "I saw someone in the parking lot and asked if they worked at the shelter. She told me she worked next door at the Humane Society. I asked her to please take the dog. She was so nice."
When the dog was brought in, the staff saw he had severe life-threatening injuries, said Michael Lausen, the Humane Society of El Paso's operations manager.
"He was pretty beat up," Lausen said. "He had lacerations everywhere. It seemed kind of hopeless."
Normally when an animal comes into the shelter with such serious injuries, euthanization is considered.
"We look at each situation on what is the merciful and compassionate thing to do," Lausen said.
"This dog had no microchip, no tags. But the man who found him looked at me like we had to do something."
The staff called Dr. Dennis Flosi, the Humane Society's medical director, who was at a formal dinner party. When the veterinarian heard about the small dog's condition, he excused himself from the party.
"Dr. Flosi rushed across town," Lausen said. "He showed up in a suit and said, 'Let's get to work.' "
After nearly four hours of emergency surgery, Flosi and Beverley Knott, a foster intake coordinator for the shelter, were happy with the results.
"We did what we could," Flosi said.
"Praying he does well. He's not out of the woods, but I was told he looked alert and bright (Saturday). I am hoping for a reasonable prognosis."
Flosi and Knott named the dog Mater after the character in the Disney Pixar movie "Cars" because the dog looked a little rough. He also has a deformed right leg, Flosi said.
" 'Cars' is my favorite movie," he said. "It just seemed to fit the dog."
Lausen and the staff are grateful for Flosi's dedication. The facility is not equipped to handle these types of emergencies regularly.
"Dennis saved that dog," Lausen said. "Mater would not have made it otherwise. I am still in shock and awe."
As Mater recovers from his injuries, the Humane Society is hoping to find his owner. If no one is found, the white terrier mix will be placed for adoption.
"This is the place for second chances," Lausen said. "That's what happened here this weekend."
Reven, who lost his dog two years ago, has not stopped thinking about the small terrier.
"I drove all night and he was on my mind," said Reven, who is now back in Colorado. "Maybe I might adopt him. I really have been thinking about it."
(El Paso Times - Dec 15, 2012)
