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Buck, Horrifically Injured 'Dog Who Wouldn't Die,' Recovers Thanks To Facebook Campaign (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

First Posted: 01/08/13 EST Updated: 01/10/13 EST

Thanks to the residents of a Texas city and a Facebook campaign that has gone viral, an abused dog who was was left for dead in a garbage bag has been given a new chance at life.

The pooch, who has since been named "Buck," was reportedly found on Jan. 5, after a local resident of Conroe, Tex., noticed that a garbage bag left on the side of the road and "tied to a t-post of a fence" was moving. He tore the bag open and was shocked to find the 3-year-old mixed breed, covered in blood and weakened by the cold, inside.

buck dog shot
(Buck at the vet. Photo credit: Facebook/Bucks for Buck)


According to the Montgomery County Police Reporter, the dog had been shot in the head and face with a pellet gun. He had also been left outside for a long time, exposed to the winter air for at least 10 hours. When the pup emerged from the bag, he reportedly could only take a few steps before collapsing.

Unable to reach animal control, the man who found Buck called his neighbor Tami Augustyn, a local animal lover known for rescuing animals in distress. Augustyn immediately rushed to the scene and brought the injured dog to a veterinary emergency clinic, where vets began treating Buck for multiple pellet wounds and hypothermia. The dog had also suffered damage to his eyes, and doctors fear that he may be permanently blind.

"Dogs love unconditionally. You'll never find anyone or anything that loves you like a dog. Why would you injure something like that? I don't understand," Augustyn said of Buck's horrific injuries.

Wanting to help Buck get well, but unable to cover the hefty medical bill, Augustyn took to Facebook to appeal for help.

The response, she says, has been astounding.

Augustyn's page, "Buck Needs Bucks for his Buckshot Injuries," has been liked over 18,000 times since it was first launched this weekend -- and according to the NY Daily News, Augustyn has already raised more than $10,000 for the dog's medical care.

"The last 24 hours [have] been overwhelming for me. I have gone from not knowing if I would have enough money to pay for Buck's emergency bill to having an unbelievable amount of money to provide THE BEST care possible for Buck's recovery," Augustyn wrote on the Facebook page early Tuesday, adding that she not only has enough money to cover the dog's emergency clinic bill but also to pay for an appointment with an ophthalmologist who could determine whether there are options for surgery.

dog shot in face survives
Augustyn seen here with a recovering Buck. Photo credit: Facebook/Bucks for Buck

"Your generosity has been AWESOME and if it weren't for each and every one of YOU, Buck would not have a 2nd chance at love," Augustyn wrote in an earlier post.

According to the NY Daily News, Augustyn will be keeping Buck as one of the family and says she plans on using any extra money raised in the Facebook campaign to create "The Buck Foundation," an organization that will focus on helping abused dogs.

As for Buck, dubbed the "dog who wouldn't die" by the Daily Mail, he has miraculously begun walking again and appears to have bonded with his new owner.

Unfortunately, those responsible for Buck's injuries have yet to be caught. As Yahoo! News notes, police in Montgomery County say that they are still investigating the incident.

 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Zhana Roiya
12:40 AM on 01/14/2013
so touching.....Buck Im so glad you found your angels in time. To the monsters......they will get theirs one day when they least expect it. Karma does find you after a while.
08:24 PM on 01/12/2013
awww it's so cute
10:46 AM on 01/11/2013
Sounds to me like someone gave their "angel" a BB gun without supervision. These are the type of people who should not be breeding. A Jeffrey Dahmer in the making,,,,,wake up parents! Do you really know what your kids do when you are not paying attention? Apparently, something unbelievably cruel & sick. I say an eye for an eye........
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
lamk
06:17 AM on 01/11/2013
Good for Buck! These people who would be so inhumane to any creature needs to be taken away from harming living beings. Anyone who can be so cruel to animals has probably got the capacity to turn to humans.
05:14 AM on 01/11/2013
I'm so glad they were able to save his life and I hope he gets a home where he will be loved forever.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Rocky the bulldog
05:05 AM on 01/11/2013
they should dust the bag for prints, and if they catch the slug that did this, gouge his eyes out with a fork.......better yet, hold him in custody & I'LL come do it FOR them.
06:02 PM on 01/11/2013
Need help?
04:15 AM on 01/11/2013
Would have been nice if the article had given us more information regarding what the police are doing to try to locate the shooters. Have they offered a reward for information? Is there any chance the authorities could lift any prints off the trash bag? Have they gone on TV to try to determine who owned the dog before it was shot? Maybe neighbors of the owner of the dog might recognize it.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
tamsen86
03:53 AM on 01/11/2013
One less animal abused and thrown away so good for the kind folks involved and FB. Buck looks very sweet and affectionate. I hope he won't be completely blind.
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03:43 AM on 01/11/2013
What can be said? Except, thank goodness that the wonderful, giving hearts of the rescuers of this dog was as huge and loving as the perpetraitors of this disgusting act was evil.
03:37 AM on 01/11/2013
I just wish that the terrible things that happen to animals and innocent people would actually happen to the bad people in our society. I hate this so much. I wish this person a slow, painful death. Poor dog...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
TarzanaGirl
03:31 AM on 01/11/2013
I've said it before and I'll say it again ........ There's a special place in HELL for those who abuse helpless children and animals!!!!!!!!!!
03:12 AM on 01/11/2013
And why is Facecrook even mentioned here? Any discovery, rescue, etc., can take place just like that. There is no need for this criminal Mark Zuckerberg who runs around crowning himself as a hero.
FUC* you Facecrook!
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
merindean
03:27 AM on 01/11/2013
I'm not a big fan of Facebook, but your reaction seems over the top. The rescuers created a page for Buck on Facebook, which resulted in the money needed to fix him, including surgery. I assume that was the reason it was mentioned.
04:12 AM on 01/11/2013
Heather, Tami Augustyn, went on face book to raise the money for the dog's medical bills. So where did you get the idea that someone name Mark was claiming to be a hero. You seem to have a major problem with Facebook. It you don't like it, don't use it, opt out of being anyone's friend etc. There is no law that requires you to have anything to do with Facebook if you don't want to do so.
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briblajan
04:43 AM on 01/11/2013
I think Heather should watch the video again!
03:08 AM on 01/11/2013
That is terrible a person could do such a awful crime. Someone has to know the owners of Buck and they need to do some explaining. Justice for Buck bless you baby get well
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
camoore5
family~the most important thing ever!
03:04 AM on 01/11/2013
So sad!! How could sad anyone hurt a animal? Thank god that man stopped and the dog got the help it needed.! I hope he gets his sight back.
02:44 AM on 01/11/2013
If things don't work out with the person taking him I will be happy to be this pet's parent . I have plenty of contacts for dogs with vision problems.. If it can be done this Dr. can fix it.. I don't need the donations.. Use them for another needy "PUP"......