A handful of Yukoners are leaping to the aid of a Porter Creek resident whose dog was the victim of a hit-and-run incident on Wednesday morning.

“I heard this crash, and then I hear this dog screaming (in) agony,” said Alex Juskovic, who was one of the first people on the scene.

Juskovic told the Star the dog was struck at around 11 a.m. on 12th Avenue near Fir Street.

Bystanders immediately rushed to help the stricken animal as the driver sped away.

The dog, a nine-month-old husky-border collie named Tappan, suffered a serious fracture to a leg and was rushed to the Alpine Veterinary Medical Centre. 

Tappan’s owner, 18-year-old Harrison Ullrich, lives close to the scene. He told the Star he was letting Tappan and his second dog outside that morning when Tappan bolted, chasing something across the street.

When Juskovic heard Tappan yelp, he saw others were running to attend to the animal. He dropped his armful of groceries and leaped into his truck to chase the vehicle that had hit the dog.

“I just floored it down 12th Avenue,” Juskovic said. “But then there was a school zone, and the person was flying through the school zone, and I’m not going to get somebody killed.”

Juskovic stopped chasing the vehicle, but was able to take down the licence plate number.

He’d hoped the perpetrator would be criminally charged. When he contacted the RCMP, however, he was referred to city officials.

“As sad as it is, it’s not criminal. It’s a bylaw issue,” he said. “Dogs are not looked at in the eyes of the law. Dogs are property.”

A dog owner himself, Juskovic was enraged by the incident. He posted a warning to the driver on the Whitehorse Rants and Raves Facebook page. He wants the perpetrator to know he has recorded the vehicle’s licence plate number.

“You left the dog there to bleed with a broken leg and in agonizing pain – I saw you speeding off through the school zone to get away. Don’t worry, I reported your car description and your license plate,” he wrote.

The post attracted more than 200 reactions within the day. More than 100 people commented well-wishes to the dog and Ullrich.

Within the hour, Juskovic, alongside other commenters, began requesting the information for the vet so they could make a donation to Tappan’s significant medical bill. Ullrich responded with gratitude.

“Any help is appreciated,” Ullrich wrote. “Getting him a bone plate (if he makes it through tonight) and school is hard to afford.”

Juskovic drove to Alpine Vet that day to make a donation.

“I just wanted to do something to help the kid – sometimes you have to lead by example,” Juskovic told the Star.

Shortly afterward, Jessica Willie called the clinic and made a second donation.

“I saw the whole story and I felt terrible,” Willie said. “I know not everyone is going to ask for help publicly when they need it.

“I knew if it was mentioned that someone was willing to do that, then somebody else might do it as well, which is what happened, which is great.”

Amy Hrebien sent Ullrich a donation by email transfer when she heard the story. 

“I believe helping others is something we should all do,” Hrebien said. “I’ve found the more I serve others, the less I dwell on or think about my own struggles in life. 

“Whitehorse is a good place and most of the people here are good, decent people. It made me feel good to help out.”

Ullrich told the Star Thursday afternoon that Tappan is in improved condition, but will need a plate installed in his femur. 

“The surgery will be upwards of $3,000 to 4,000,” Ullrich said. “All the money is coming out of our mom’s retirement fund.”

Tappan was slated to be transferred to the All Paws Veterinary Clinic for surgery today.

“I’m glad his dog is better; what a relief,” Juskovic said. “I believe we are obligated to help each other … we’re all in this together.”