Stella the husky is lucky to be alive after bolting from her northeast Wisconsin home, sprinting onto an overpass, and hurling herself off I-41 in Howard in a fall estimated at about 30 feet onto Shawano Avenue. Good Samaritans quickly called police, and an animal-control officer captured the injured dog and rushed her to an emergency veterinarian in Appleton. She survived the plunge but suffered internal bleeding along with severe chest and lung trauma.
Rescue and response
According to a NewsFlash from the Village of Howard, responders were dispatched to the I-41/Shawano Avenue overpass on March 23 after witnesses reported an injured dog below. The village reported that animal control and police were on scene and that the dog was expected to survive. Officials also asked anyone who had seen the animal in the area to contact local animal control.
Apparent gunshot and surgery
FOX6 News Milwaukee reports that after Stella leaped from the overpass and fell around 30 feet onto Shawano Avenue, she was captured by animal control and taken for emergency care, where veterinarians discovered metal fragments consistent with an apparent gunshot. The Wisconsin Humane Society told the station that Stella had internal bleeding and major lung and chest damage, underwent multiple X-rays and a major open-chest surgery, and is now recovering at the WHS Green Bay campus.
How to help
The Wisconsin Humane Society says Stella's family surrendered her, and the shelter is now covering her veterinary care while she heals. WHS is collecting donations to help pay her mounting medical bills and plans to announce when she is ready to be adopted into a new home.
Why huskies bolt
Huskies are bred for endurance and are notorious escape artists if they are under-exercised or not securely contained. The American Kennel Club notes the breed's "deep-rooted instinct to run" and recommends sturdy fencing and plenty of daily exercise to cut down on runaway risks.
What remains unknown
Exactly how Stella came to have the apparent gunshot-related metal fragments in her body is still a mystery. The Wisconsin Humane Society has not provided details about when or where the fragments were introduced, FOX6 reports. For now, local officials and WHS staff are focused on her medical recovery and are asking anyone who saw the dog near the I-41/Shawano Avenue overpass to contact authorities.
