When Fort Lauderdale couple Nichole O'Neal and Neil Oliver saw the story of a death-defying chocolate Lab mix last week on the news, they felt compelled to help.
“Couldn't believe it. I had to rewind it and watch it again,” O’Neal said.
It was last Friday when Broward County animal control officer Matthew Knowles witnessed the dog being struck by a car on Northwest 19th Street in Fort Lauderdale.
“She rolled a couple times In the street -- got up, and kept running,” Knowles said.
If surviving a car crash wasn’t miracle enough, what would happen next surely would be: the dog was hit by an oncoming train at Northwest 27th Avenue and survived. She sustained lacerations on her face and a hairline fracture on her skull, but overall was in good condition.
The couple knew she was special.
“What an amazing dog,” Oliver said.
When no one came forward to claim the four-legged marvel, they were first in line to adopt her from the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Center. On Thursday afternoon, Oliver and O’Neal brought her to her new home.
“She hasn't been around anyone she hasn't liked. And to go through what she went through and to be so sweet -- I can't explain it,” O’Neal said.
“She came in, she sniffed around. You know, kind of getting the lay of the land,” Oliver said.
The dog, who veterinarians believe is 7 years old, was first named Miracle by Knowles. The couple has decided to call her Lucky instead.
“Kind of rolled off the tongue a little better. And I still think it fits her a little more,” Oliver said.
“Her name was Miracle before, which was definitely fitting, but Lucky just seems like a new beginning,” O’Neal said.
In some ways, this dog's luck was made possible by the love of humans.
“I'd like to think so. But I think she made a lot of her own luck, too,” said Oliver.