Animals
‘Shivering’ Pup Left Behind At Crash Scene Named ‘Tom’ After North Dakota Trooper Who Rescued Him
A “shivering” puppy left behind at the scene of a recent car accident in North Dakota has been named Tom after the trooper who rescued him and is “thriving” at his new foster home, authorities said.
North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) said Trooper Tom Steenstrup responded to a crash on Nov. 12, and found that the driver had fled the scene in another vehicle after striking the guardrail. The abandoned vehicle wasn’t entirely empty, however, as Steenstrup spotted a ‘”scared, shivering pup” that had been left behind.
Body-worn camera video and photos shared by NDHP show Steenstrup rescuing the pup, which can be seen wearing a tiny red sweater. A Crash Assistance Program team member who also happens to volunteer at a dog rescue took the dog in, and named him Tom after his rescuer.
In a followup in Friday, NDHP said Tom is now “safe, warm, and thriving in a foster home in Fargo.”
While the crash remains under investigation, NDHP said the driver has been identified and charges are pending.
