A family in Fontana, California, had their festive spirit shattered when a burglary on December 3th left them not only bereft of gifts but also with a deeply wounded dog. The home’s gate was broken, and the intruders drove away with presents—yet they failed to close the gate, putting their 2½‑year‑old Australian blue‑heeler, Sparky, in danger.
Sparky was later found in a neighbor’s shrubbery, battered and exhausted after a car ran him over. For two days he spent the cold on the roadside, dehydrated and terrified. “When my boyfriend finally found him, Sparky crawled out from under a structure and rolled onto his side as if begging for help,” Altamirano wrote on a GoFundMe page. “It was absolutely heartbreaking.” The injury was severe enough that he had to have his leg amputated; doctors said his entire limb was “ripped apart” after a broken foot, fractured leg and a deep infection that had attracted maggots.
The family’s ordeal was compounded by the loss of their holiday gifts, but Altamirano said nothing compared to seeing Sparky suffer. “The timing, the holidays, everything hitting at once—it’s overwhelming,” she said.
After the incident, a GoFundMe campaign launched on December 5. By Wednesday, more than 500 donors had contributed, and the fund had surpassed $18,000—well above the initial $13,500 goal—to pay covering ongoing medical costs and recovery.
The burglary remains unsolved, but the community’s response has been heartening. “Your generosity has made it possible for us to continue pursuing the best possible care,” Altamirano told supporters. For Sparky and his parents, the biggest present this year has been the unexpected kindness from strangers—essentially a second chance at life.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
