Puppy survives train encounter.

Byline: JOE MOSLEY The Register-Guard

JUNCTION CITY - Forgive "Bonk" for being just a little woozy.

On Thursday, the 4-month-old black Lab-mix puppy had a head-on collision with a freight train and then was thought to have died as his rescuer carried his limp body into Mary Whitlock's veterinary office. By Friday morning, the wiry pup was raiding food from the resident cat's dish in the clinic's back room.

He's now at the Lane County Animal Regulation Authority's shelter in west Eugene, where he'll be held until Wednesday to be claimed by his owner and then will be eligible for adoption - or euthanasia.

"I know animals are euthanized every day," said Dana Oliver of Eugene, who took the unconscious puppy to Whitlock's office after witnessing the accident. "But I can't help thinking - this dog survived getting hit by a train."

Oliver noticed the puppy as he and a friend, returning from a trip to Corvallis, pulled up to a railroad crossing just off Highway 99 on Prairie Road. The puppy and another dog were playing near the tracks, and as a train approached at about 25 mph, the older dog cleared out of the way.

"The little dog got spooked," Oliver said. "It was trying to look for a space between the cars to slip through, and it jumped up and then the corner of a boxcar hit it in the head.

"As soon as the train passed, I scooped it up. I thought he died in my arms. He was whimpering, and then he stopped and let loose of his bowels."

That was just as Oliver carried the puppy into Whitlock's Countryside Animal Clinic a few miles from the crossing, in Junction City.

"I don't know why this dog's alive," Whitlock said as the puppy wandered around an examination room on Friday - and pestered the veterinarian for snacks.

"He came in yesterday, and he was just flat out. He was nonresponsive," Whitlock said. "The guy just ran in with him in his arms."

Whitlock quickly assessed the dog, who was bleeding from the nose and had a big lump over his right eye, but had no obvious fractures and had "good withdrawal reflexes" in all four legs. She decided to treat him, even though the dog had no collar or identification tag and his owner was unknown.

"Euthanasia was a real option, too," said Whitlock, who decided to take a chance because of the puppy's age and potential to be placed in a good home.

"We named him 'Bonk,' because he has a bonk right there," veterinary assistant Kate Utsey said, touching the tender spot on the dog's head.

The dog received intravenous fluids, along with injections of cortisone, antibiotics and pain medication.

"He was very hungry when he started coming around yesterday at about 2 o'clock," Whitlock said. "He wanted to go outside at 4 o'clock, and by 10 o'clock he had a tail wag and was giving kisses."

The dog was underfed, and Whitlock also treated him for both worms and fleas.

"I assume he probably hasn't had very good care," she said. "We thought we had a lead on an owner, but no one's come forward."

She said there's little hope of recouping her full costs for treating the dog, but she knew that would be the case when she decided to try saving him - and she's glad Oliver went out of his way to help.

Oliver said he would have volunteered to keep the puppy, as well, but the timing just isn't right.

"My wife and I would adopt it, but we're getting ready to go to the Ukraine to adopt a child," he said. "We're not in a position right now to take on a pet."

So animal welfare officer Becky von Stein picked up the recuperating puppy at Whitlock's office and said she hopes Bonk's story will bring out potential new owners for several dogs and cats housed at the county shelter.

"We certainly want to have every adoptable animal go out the front door," von Stein said. "Unfortunately, that's not always the case because there just aren't enough homes out there."

Senior animal welfare officer Bill Waugh said he'd be surprised if Bonk's owner comes forward, so the puppy probably will be available for adoption by Wednesday afternoon. However, anyone interested in the dog can get on an adoption list as early as 1 p.m. today, when the shelter opens.

The total adoption cost will be $70 - $35 to cover neutering as soon as Bonk is old enough, $10 for rabies and distemper shots, and $25 for a license, leash and collar.

"With a little dog like this, where his injuries are not too severe, he'll get adopted," Waugh said.

"If the owner does come forward, which I really doubt, the owner will be liable for the vet bill."

CAPTION(S):

Veterinarian Mary Whitlock holds Bonk, a puppy who survived being struck by a train Thursday. The pup is now at the county animal shelter waiting for his owner or someone to adopt him. THOMAS BOYD / The Register-Guard