LOCAL NEWS

Puppy thrown from car in South Salt Lake hits donation goal from donors around the country

May 16, 2022, 7:15 PM | Updated: Jun 19, 2022, 9:17 pm

SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah — Good news about a dog thrown from a car in South Salt Lake that is getting attention from around the country.

Malin, the “warrior,” is out of surgery to repair her broken back legs and now has enough donations to recover.

As soon as South Salt Lake Animal Services opened its doors and phone lines on Monday morning, people began calling and stopping by to donate to Malin’s recovery.

Video of the estimated 2-month-old Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix shows her back legs shaved and the little black fur baby shivering and shaking after surgery.

Malin couldn’t have had that surgery without the hundreds who were worried about her upon hearing what happened to the dog.

“Everybody wants to see the best outcome for her,” said Kevin Hansen, animal control officer for South Salt Lake. “They’re concerned, and hopefully, we can track down the person who threw the dog out of the car. This type of thing shouldn’t happen.”

In one of the worst animal abuse cases, Hansen has seen in South Salt Lake. He described how Malin was thrown onto 3300 South near 300 West around 2 or 2:30 p.m. Friday.

A woman experiencing homelessness watched the tiny pup get chucked onto the street but didn’t get a very detailed description of the car.

She picked up the dog and walked it to a nearby vet clinic.

“They thought with the extensive injuries, that they thought they were going just to have to euthanize the dog,” Hansen said.

They estimated it would take $10,000 to help Malin, especially because on top of the broken legs, she may have a spinal cord injury and eye issues, and they discovered she’s likely been abused in the past.

“The vet said that there was possible old scarring around her ribs. So, as a two-month-old dog, there’s possibly previous abuse as well,” Hansen said. “So she hasn’t seen a good human.”

Thankfully, good humans around the country are rooting for Malin and flooded animal services all day.

The shelter had raised the funds by mid-afternoon, and all her bills will be taken care of.

People kept calling and stopping by instead of donating to the small locally-run shelter.

“With something that happens like this, though, one bad thing and then a million good things come flooding in at the same time,” said McKenna Osmond, a kennel tech and receptionist at South Salt Lake Animal Services.

While police investigate who hurt her, Malin can now start to heal.

Hansen expects Malin to recover but could be a special needs dog permanently, depending on how well she heals.

South Salt Lake Animal Services plans to adopt her out to a forever family, and they’ve already received numerous applications from people interested in bringing her into a loving home.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

8 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

8 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

9 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

11 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

11 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Puppy thrown from car in South Salt Lake hits donation goal from donors around the country