Sask. woman backs over puppy, warns pet owners to look under cars

A Saskatoon-area woman is warning pet owners to look under their cars after accidently backing over her four-month-oldpuppy.

Two months ago Ashley Woodvine unknowingly backed over her dog, Sharley. The mixed-breed farm dog was lying underneath Woodvine's vehicle.

Every time I would shift it into a gear, she would scream and scream.- AshleyWoodvine

"I just started backing up and my boyfriend heard her screaming and I didn't know what to do. I slammed on my brakes," she explained.

"As soon as we went to go touch her though, she actually snapped at us."

Woodvinesaid the pup was in so much pain that they had to wrap a towel around her head to keep her from biting.

The familythen began a fretful journey to Saskatoon and the medical centre of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, about 20 minutes from their home.

"I drive a standard, so that didn't help. Every time I would shift it into a gear, she would scream and scream. So it was a long car ride," said Woodvine. "I was going probably 20 kilometres down from Circle Drive freeway in the 90-kilometre zone with my hazards on."

After an initial X-ray, Woodvine said vets told her that Sharley had about a 70 per cent chance of walking again. One of the dog's backbones was crushed.

But after a CT scan was done, the prognosis of recovery changed. From that scan, it was learned that Sharley's spine was crushed more than was previously thought.

The family decided to euthanize the animal and was given a chance to see Sharley, for a final goodbye.

"She just kept looking at us and those little eyeballs just did it for us," Woodvine said of that moment. "It just sunk our hearts and my boyfriend and I, we didn't even have to say anything, we just looked at each other and we knew."

Instead of putting Sharley down, they opted for surgery.

Injured pup Sharley is on the mend

8 years ago

Duration 0:22

Injured pup Sharley is on the mend

"We looked at the nurse and said, 'No, we want to do the surgery. We want to take that chance. We'll make it work if we have to.'"

5-hour surgery

The veterinarians went to work that night and after about a five-hour surgery, Woodvine got a call around midnight saying the surgery was successful.

It's been two months since the incident and Sharley has been recovering ever since.

"She's walking, running on all four feet," said Woodvine. "If she could, she would be outside 24/7 but unfortunately, we still have to keep it easy for a little while."

Woodvine has one message she'd like others with pets to know: "Look under your vehicles if you're about to go somewhere. We do that everyday now."