ohmidog!

When a stray 20-pound Australian cattle dog was struck by a car while crossing Washington Street in South Philadelphia back in March, three police officers rushed her to the Pennsylvania SPCA.

On Sunday, the dog, now known as Miss Mickey, and her foster parent, from the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association, dropped by the Third District Police Station at 11th and Wharton Streets with a $150 donation to the city’s Fallen Officers Fund, presented on the dog’s behalf.

Officers Brian Karpinski, Jason Rush and Melissa Kromchad accepted the gift, with appreciative pats for Miss Mickey, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

“Last time I saw her,” Rush said, “she didn’t look anything like that.”

When Miss Mickey was hit, the officers put her in a patrol wagon and sped to the SPCA, where veterinarians found her pelvis had been crushed.

After a week of treatment there, Miss Mickey, thought to be about 6 years old, was tranferred to Valley Central Veterinary Referral Center in the Lehigh Valley, where metal plates were implanted in her pelvis. The surgeon discounted his bill, from the normal $10,000 to $1,800.

South Street merchant Tony Fisher, who witnessed the accident, started soliciting donations from his customers via email. It was Fisher, who runs Big Green Earth, who came up with the dog’s new name.

Fisher and Marianne Ahern, who volunteered to foster Miss Mickey, also used Facebook to get the word out about her condition. One of Fisher’s customers even sold some of his original artwork on eBay to raise money, and donations came from as far away as Florida and California.

The campaign brought in $4,000. After paying the dog’s medical expenses, the remainder was donated to the Fallen Officers Fund.

Ahern said Miss Mickey is fully recovered from her injuries – and up for adoption. If interested, visit the website of the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association.