Dog struck by car on I-95 reunited with owners

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida family has been reunited with their pet after fearing he was lost forever.

"I have no words to explain, really," said David Mejia.

The owners of the dog were in the midst of moving to a new place last Friday, due to strict pet rules at their apartment. They were forced to leave him at a boat yard along 79th Street for just a few hours.

"I couldn't stop crying when I left him there," said Mejia. "I didn't know why."

Five hours later, they returned but the dog was long gone. "I was walking everywhere, trying to figure out where he could've gone," said Mejia. "I don't know, try to think of something."

Word quickly spread the dog was hit by a car, and the owners stumbled upon our 7News story on-line. "Search for lab rescue in South Florida, in Miami, somewhere around there," said Francisco Rojas. "I went on my computer and started looking on Google for the news, Channel 7 News, about a dog on I-95. As soon as I saw him on the video, I said, 'Wow, that's him.'"

Last Sunday, he was hit by a car while attempting to cross Interstate 95. Carrie Zack helped the injured animal, shielding him from the constant flow of traffic just feet away. "He got hit and kinda like tossed to the side, and I immediately started honking my horn and rolled down my window, because he was gonna get run over."

Bleeding and bruised, Zack rushed the dog to the Hollywood Animal Hospital. "I was like, 'You have to help me. I can't do this on my own, ' and they agreed to help me and care for the dog," she said.

Luck is still the best way to describe this dog's remarkable recovery. In just days, he's back on his feet, tongue wagging and ready to go home. "I mean, I have really no words to explain the feeling. I'm thankful for her [Zack], for everybody that helped him to be OK after all he went through," said Mejia.

(Copyright 2012 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)