Driver in Hamburg shatters puppy’s leg in hit-and-run

HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Hamburg family now needs to get emergency surgery for their puppy to amputate his hind leg after a driver shattered it in a hit-and-run incident on Jan. 18.

For the Ryan family, Hall Drive in Hamburg is a safe space for everyone to be outside, with many neighbors having dogs. That sentiment quickly turned sour when their family dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Oakley, was hit by a driver who didn’t stop afterwards.

“When you come out of nowhere — it’s a school zone and you are also speeding,” said Nichole Ryan, Oakley’s owner.

Nichole and her family have had Oakley for just six months before the puppy, taking off in a spurt of energy, was hit by a car on the intersection of Hall Drive and Clover Bank. It happened right in front of Nichole’s daughter McKenna, who was chasing after him.

“The silver SUV comes in speeding past and then hits Oakley,” McKenna said. “Oakley was flying into the street and when I got there, I picked Oakley up and like, hugged him and started crying.”

“For my 13-year-old to see that, you could of stopped, you know, so that was heartbreaking for me, and she still talks about it every night, so she was also affected by this as well,” Nichole said.

Oakley was rushed to Orchard Park Vet Hospital, suffering multiple fractures and a shattered femur.

His hind leg, which now needs to be amputated, is wrapped and dangling from his body.

“He is in a great deal of pain. I’ve already had to take him for an emergency vet visit because he got his stitches and a piece of the wrapping started to come off,” Ryan said. “I’m up all night with him like you would be a newborn baby — you know, the crying, the whimpering.”

The Ryans are thankful that Oakley is alive, but the vet bills are piling up. They said the amputation surgery will cost over $3,000.

The Town of Hamburg Police Department is investigating, but have yet to catch the person behind the wheel.

The Ryan family said while Oakley’s quality of life will never be the same, their love for him will never change.

“Whether he’s got four legs or three legs or two legs, I’m going to love him, we’re going to love him,” Ryan said.

If you would like to help the Ryan family with the cost of the vet bills, you can call the Community Pet Care Hospital at (716) 821-0603 and ask to make a donation to Oakley’s vet fund, saying Nichole Ryan sent you.

You can also follow Oakley’s recovery on Nichole’s Facebook.

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Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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