A one-month-old puppy named Tommy is defying the odds after surviving a horrific act of cruelty in Texas.
The tiny puppy was seen by a witness being thrown from a moving truck, in a moment which has been described as “unthinkable.”
Fortunately, the quick-thinking of a passerby meant that Tommy’s story didn’t end there. The witness immediately alerted animal services, who rushed the injured puppy to an emergency clinic for overnight treatment.
Veterinarians found that Tommy had suffered head trauma, which led to him having seizures. The next morning, he was transferred to Austin Animal Services, and later to Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) as a medical-urgent case requiring specialized care.
Despite everything he has endured, Tommy’s resilient spirit is shining through. Caregivers report that he’s eating well—even licking his bowl clean—and even showing glimpses of typical puppy playfulness.
To help monitor his condition, the APA! medical team tied tiny bells to his collar so they can listen for seizure episodes. Tommy is currently being treated with anti-seizure medication, pain relief, and other standard puppy care, including deworming.
“Fortunately, when an animal needs our help, we know we can say ‘yes’ because of our community’s support,” APA! said in a statement shared with Newsweek. “Though there may be some individuals in the community that make choices that cause pain, we’re grateful that there are more well-intentioned and loving people who join us in standing up for those who need us.”
Tommy’s story comes amid ongoing challenges for shelters nationwide. According to mid-year 2025 data from Shelter Animals Count, approximately 2.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters and rescues between January and June, a 4 percent drop from the previous year, yet shelters remain over capacity, with more animals entering than exiting them.
More than half of these intakes (57 percent) were strays, while non-live outcomes, including euthanasia and deaths in care, reached 366,000 animals.
Even with increased awareness and adoption campaigns, adoptions have dipped 1 percent nationwide, and large dogs and vulnerable young animals, like Tommy, remain disproportionately at risk.
Heartbreakingly, this isn’t the first time an animal has had to be rescued after being thrown from a truck. Earlier this year, a good Samaritan stepped in after a tiny puppy was thrown into the street in Los Angeles.
While in Dallas another passer-by saw a dog being thrown out of a car in May. After scooping up the terrified dog, the woman took him to a vet where a microchip revealed he had been adopted in February. But unable to get in touch with the owners, TikToker @claireemitchell7 revealed in the clip she adopted the dog herself.
And it’s not just America where dogs are sadly thrown from moving vehicles. In 2022 another dog found a forever home after surviving being thrown from a truck in the U.K.
For Tommy, his prognosis is positive, as he’s now on the mend and ready to move into a foster home where he can continue to recover and grow.