'Sweetest dog in the world': Linus the Bridgewater Boxer hit by car. What happened?

BRIDGEWATER — Linus, a 6-year-old white Boxer described by his owner as "the sweetest dog in the world," was hit by a car on Oak Street in Bridgewater early Tuesday morning.

A photo of Linus lying on the side of the road, which was circulated on a neighborhood Facebook group , received hundreds of reactions and comments from worried and outraged residents.

Melissa Guisti, Linus’ owner, said he is currently being treated at New England Animal Medical Center in West Bridgewater .

“Everybody who meets Linus falls in love with him right away. He’s just a bundle of joy. He's the sweetest dog in the world. He's so loving,” Guisti said.

“But he’s also a little scamp because he does like to take off,” she said, which is why when a contractor left a gate open on their property, Linus escaped.

How did Linus get out?

“We had told our contractor that our dog is an escape artist, so to make sure that the gate is closed. And he told his workers, but one of them did leave the gate open,” Guisti said.

“I was in bed at the time, it was really early this morning, around 6:45 or 7, when my husband told me that Linus took off. We got in the car to look for him and called animal control, who told us a white boxer was hit by a car,” she said.

Guisti said the man who hit Linus told police that he was driving down Union Street when the dog bolted out in front of him.

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Driver stayed on scene

Despite rumors saying otherwise, police told Giusti that the driver stayed on scene.

“The driver of the car got in touch with me and apologized. I think he was still sort of in shock,” she said.

When Guisti was reunited with Linus at the animal hospital, she said she was very upset and worried.

“He was very scraped up and scared, but he was awake, said Giusti.

Giusti said she saw the photo of Linus that circulated on the Bridgewater neighborhood Facebook page and can’t get the image out of her head.

“He just looks so scared and sad and hurt. I hate to think of him that way,” she said. “It’s terrifying. I'm upset."

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Update on Linus' medical condition

After a comprehensive exam, the vet told Giusti that Linus had a dislocated hip, a punctured lung, bruising to his lungs and heart and two of his teeth were knocked out.

Since the accident, Linus has been taken off oxygen and has been breathing on his own.

"If he's strong enough, they are going to do the hip replacement surgery today," she said. "We were able to visit him yesterday. He was all drugged up on pain meds but he had his head up and received our pats."

GoFundMe

According to Guisti, Linus' medical bills are currently at $16,000 and growing. The contractor has agreed to pay $2,000 for leaving the gate open.

"Many have asked whether they can contribute to [Linus'] veterinary bills, and so we have set this up for those who would like to donate," Guisti wrote on a GoFundMe page . "We are so grateful for everyone's messages and support," she wrote.

As of Friday morning, 28 people have raised $1,335 to support Linus' recovery.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: 'Sweetest dog in the world': Linus the Bridgewater Boxer hit by car. What happened?