(GLENOLDEN, PA)
Maryanne Tillman, Ozzie's "mom," gives us an amazing update on how Ozzie is now helping other dogs. There's also a break in the hit-and-run investigation.
Scroll down below for the update.
"He's my best friend." That's what Ziggy Tillman says about his three-year old Airedale Terrier. And he believed that before Ozzie saved his life.
Friday, October 20th, Tillman went to take Ozzie out for a long evening walk. They were on the sidewalk, just a few blocks from their home in Glenolden, Pennsylvania.
"All of the sudden," Tillman says, "I heard a noise." "The next thing I know, we were up on the grass. I was holding my dog and he was yelping and crying."
Tillman saw a little black car stop about 50-yards down the block. But, then it took off.That's when he realized, "My dog saved my life. Ozzie, all 90-pounds of him, took brunt of the impact between the car and me. He took the hit for me. He's my hero."
That protection came at a high price. Ozzie suffered a dislocated hip, an ankle bone sanded down to the ligaments, and a gash across his leg 4-5 inches long.
"A policeman shined his light on Ozzie and we could see straight to the bone." A piece of the car's headlight was stuck in the dog's face. Ozzie spent a couple weeks in the hospital and now has a cast on his rear left leg. The vet bills add up to over $5,000.
The Tillman family went looking for the hit and run driver. They put up posters around the neighborhood. They called newspapers and local television stations.
Police have yet to find the driver. If they do, that piece of headlight from Ozzie's face will be a big clue to match the car.
Meanwhile, as the Tillmans were hunting a bad guy, an amazing thing happened. Good people showed up.
"So many people were sending money, and calling, and praying," says Tillman's wife, MaryAnne. More than $5,000 has been donated. That's more than enough for the vet bills and rehab Ozzie will need when the cast comes off.
"We kept only $40," Tillman says. "We spent that on a new bed and some toys for Ozzie. The rest all went to the vet center." As the donations keep coming in, Ozzie is turning into a philanthropist.
"We've set up the 'Ozzie Tillman Fund," says Ziggy. "Once all the bills are paid, the extra donations will go to treat other dogs who don't have the means to pay." It's all because of Ozzie, his courage, and the kindness of strangers.
"We went looking for one bad apple," Ziggy's wife, MaryAnne says, "And instead, we found a whole orchard of wonderful folks."
Maryanne Tillman writes:
Yesterday, I took Ozzie to the vets. He was sedated and had a cast change and x-rays. He is doing great.
While waiting for Ozzie, I met a wonderful woman, Kelly, who had rescued and was fostering a little 5 month old pup Freddie, who had been left out on the streets of Philadelphia. He had been hit by a car and had received no medical attention and had an old pelvic and leg injury. He had been taken to a shelter. The shelter told his foster mom she could take him back to the shelter to be euthanized, but she would not do it.
I was able to ask the vet to use some of the the Ozzie fund to help with Freddie's medical bills. Freddie had his surgery yesterday and the vet said he had to have been in pain for some time. Depending on whether his sciatic nerve was involved or not, Freddie may have to have an amputation of his leg. We are all praying for Freddie to be ok. Regardless, We are determined to find a home for Freddie. ( my husband wants it to be our home but I don't know how Ozzie would feel about it).
Last evening, the police came to our house to let us know that an arrest was made in Ziggy and Ozzie's hit and run case. It was a thirty year old woman who said her boyfriend was forcibly kissing her and then told her to drive on after hitting them. The police did not say much but a tip lead to the arrest. I think, it may have been a body shop that was able to match the piece of headlight taken from Ozzie's face. The court date is set for
December 6th.
For more on the Ozzie Tillman Fund go to www.vetreferral.com.
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