Hundreds of cars sped down Interstate 35 near Waco, Texas — but only one driver noticed a black dog lying helpless in the grassy median. Instead of continuing on, the driver pulled over and called for help.
Chief Michael Dorsey, of the Bruceville-Eddy Police Department, arrived minutes later.
“The dog was stuck between the frontage road and the interstate,” Dorsey told The Dodo. “Traffic was flying by — it was a very dangerous place to be.”
As he slowly approached, his body camera capturing every moment, the young Lab mix whimpered — terrified and hurting. One wrong move, and he could have bolted straight into traffic.
“With the speed limit being 75, cars are going fast — usually much faster,” Dorsey said. “I didn’t want him to panic.”
When the chief realized the dog was unable to stand, he knew something was very wrong. Working with the Good Samaritan, Dorsey carefully moved his patrol car closer and they lifted the injured pup inside.
A mystery injury
The chief couldn’t tell how the dog had ended up alone on the highway.
“He had scrapes on his legs,” Dorsey said. “We don’t know whether he fell or was hit.”
What he did know: someone had once cared for this dog. A quick scan revealed a microchip — linking the dog, named Lincoln, to Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption.
“We were shocked and heartbroken,” said Katherine Martin, the rescue’s president. “He was adopted from us as a puppy eight years ago.”
Attempts to reach his previous adopter went unanswered, so the rescue quickly stepped in.
A volunteer rushed Lincoln to Sunset Canyon Veterinary Clinic near Austin for emergency care.
Painful diagnosis — but a hopeful plan
Lincoln won over everyone at the clinic with his gentle nature, but X-rays brought sobering news: both hips were fractured and dislocated. Multiple specialists confirmed the only way Lincoln would walk without pain again was through double hip replacement surgery.
“That’s the only option to give him a pain-free future,” Martin said.
While the rescue works to fundraise for Lincoln’s surgeries and recovery, Dr. David Allman at the Veterinary Regional Orthopedic Center has already performed the first operation — and Lincoln is recovering well. The second hip procedure is scheduled in just a couple of weeks.
“We love our dogs like they’re family,” Martin said. “Lincoln has survived so much — he deserves a brand-new start.”
Not just a rescue — a case to solve
Chief Dorsey, a longtime K9 handler and dog lover, hasn’t stopped thinking about Lincoln. He’s continuing to investigate what happened that left the sweet pup stranded and broken beside a freeway.
“We want to make sure he gets the life he deserves,” Dorsey said. “And we want to understand how he ended up there — to finish the story.”