MIDDLETOWN — This dog probably doesn’t know his name.
How could he?
On Tuesday, the 1-year-old Labrador retriever and German shepherd mix was thrown out of a moving pickup truck, was rescued, turned over to a Middletown adoption center, named Vinnie, then renamed Bouncer, given his ordeal.
He also went from discarded to the Most Spoiled dog at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society shelter.
“He’s a wonderful dog who is intelligent and well mannered,” said Stephenie Michna, PAWS director.
Which gives Bouncer two legs up on his owner.
A man driving a dark pickup truck reportedly tossed the dog out of the vehicle Tuesday afternoon near McCurry Avenue.
Michna called the driver “heartless.”
The incident was witnessed by two Middletown City School District bus drivers, and a young man whose mother drives a school bus and works at PAWS.
Bouncer dodged traffic long enough to be rescued, taken home by the bus driver’s son, then turned over to PAWS. Bouncer was examined, and as Michna said, he “seems to be just fine.”
On Friday afternoon, Bouncer playfully chased a laser light around the PAWS office. He weighs about 45 pounds, and once fully grown, he’ll gain another five pounds, Michna said..
When he was found, Bouncer had no collar or identification, and no microchip. He was nameless and homeless.
After another week, he’ll be neutered, implanted with a microchip, and put up for $125 adoption.
Michna said Bouncer is fortunate to be given “a second chance.”
“This is a very special dog who deserves a good, loving home,” Michna said.
The shelter is located at 2790 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in Middletown. For information, call (513) 422-7297.
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