Abigail Klein Leichman
February 11, 2016

When Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedic Liat Mizrahi and her team were flagged down by a bystander to tend a wounded dog lying on the pavement near the train station in Binyamina in the Haifa region, they immediately called for another team to take their place on regular duty and rushed to save the dog, which had been hit by a car.

And so, what had begun as just another shift for theMobile Intensive Care crew from nearby Or Akiva ended with an unusual lifesaving mission that eventually involved the director-general of MDA.

Fortunately, Mizrahi has eight years of experience working in a veterinary clinic. With one glance she realized they had to act fast.

“I knew I could not leave it untreated,” recalled Mizrahi. “I asked permission from my superiors to take a one-hour break and an ambulance was sent to take our place so that MDA activities would continue as usual.”

After she inserted a needle to drain air from Chupa’s chest and administered intravenous fluids and oxygen, she noticed significant improvement in Chupa’s appearance.

Paramedic Liat Mizrahi draining air from the injured dog’s chest. Photo courtesy of MDA Spokesman’s Office
Paramedic Liat Mizrahi draining air from the injured dog’s chest. Photo courtesy of MDA Spokesman’s Office

The crew – including emergency medical technicians Katy Shussman and Yasser Amash, and youth volunteer Thomas Mittleman — then turned to onlookers to help them find the dog’s owners.

Meanwhile, Mizrahi contacted local veterinarian Dr. Rafael Farag, who agreed to provide further treatment.

Here, however, the team encountered another problem: how to safely transport the dog to Farag’s clinic.

Into the picture entered MDA Director General Eli Bin, who granted special permission to bring the dog there on the ambulance’s gurney. Chupa arrived at the veterinary in stable condition.

“MDA’s mission of saving lives is the highest value and not just when it comes to humans,” said Bin later. “I applaud the quick response of the team and I wish a speedy recovery to Chupa. I hope to see her walk on all fours soon.”

He added that the gurney used to transport Chupa will be donated to a veterinary emergency service.

Orly Oren, mother of the dog’s owner, was full of praise for the MDA crew.

“The dog escaped from the yard without us realizing she was gone, and suddenly we got a phone call that Chupa was hit by a vehicle,” she said. “I went there immediately and I was deeply moved to see the MDA team saving the life of a dog with indescribable devotion. I just wanted to hug and kiss Liat and to thank the amazing ambulance crew.”

From left, EMT and driver Yasser Amash, Liat Mizrahi with Chupa, and Senior EMT Katy Shussman.Photo courtesy of MDA Spokesman’s Office
From left, EMT and driver Yasser Amash, Liat Mizrahi with Chupa, and Senior EMT Katy Shussman.Photo courtesy of MDA Spokesman’s Office

 

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