Zip-Tied Puppy Saved From Arizona Highway by Trucker

A puppy left abandoned on the side of an Arizona highway with a zip tie wrapped tightly around her throat was rescued by a trucker in time to make a recovery.

On Oct. 20, a trucker driving on Interstate 10 noticed the small pup on an exit ramp in Benson, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a social media post. The driver pulled over, removed the tight zip tie and gave her water and safety until a state trooper arrived on the scene.

Trooper Iliana Magallanes found the young dog with a “swollen neck and bloodshot eyes, but still friendly and happy despite her ordeal.” Next, the trooper secured the puppy a spot at the Benson Animal Shelter and took care of the puppy with a blanket and attention before driving her to the shelter.

The animal shelter reported the lost puppy was “doing remarkably well” after a checkup and treatment for medical issues. The puppy is now in a foster home pending adoption.

“Great work by everyone who came together to help this pup! Thank you to the truck driver who stopped to save her, and to Benson Animal Shelter, Paws and Claws for ensuring she gets healthy and finds a good home,” the Department of Public Safety said.