Danielle Collins may not be taking home the Miami Open trophy this year, but the world No. 15 is returning home with an even more precious reward. Last week, Collins` quick actions upon discovering an injured dog struck by a car near Hard Rock Stadium were not only life-saving for the animal but also resulted in her gaining a new furry companion.
Following her third-round victory over Swiss player Rebeka Masarova on Saturday night, Collins shared in a post-match interview that she and her team encountered the injured dog curled up on the road two days prior as they were leaving the tournament grounds. They immediately rushed him to a veterinary hospital. The puppy required urgent surgery and subsequent treatment for lung contusions. Collins promised that if he survived, she would adopt him.
Despite her tournament journey ending in the Round of 16 against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, Collins kept her fans updated through social media. She shared a heartwarming photo on her Instagram story of herself cuddling the recovering dog at the hospital. She named him Crash Marino Collins, both in honor of his survival of the car crash and after the famous Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino.
By Wednesday, after five days of oxygen therapy, Collins announced in an Instagram post the happy conclusion: Crash was discharged from the hospital, officially adopted, and is now happily adjusting to his new home.
`His breathing has returned to normal, his injuries are healing, and he is clearly enjoying all the affection he`s receiving,` Collins posted on Instagram, introducing Crash to her followers for the first time. `He is inquisitive, loving, and thankful for a second chance at life. It was incredibly distressing to see a dog in such agony after being hit by a car and left in the middle of the road while so many people drove past his huddled body.`
`I am just so grateful that I was there to help him get the necessary medical attention.`
Crash is now part of Collins` family, which includes four other dogs, notably the well-known Labradoodle Quincy, nicknamed `Mr. Q.` Mr. Q has been a constant companion of Collins over the past year, and the 2022 Australian Open finalist even credited Mr. Q as the `MVP` of her victorious run to her first WTA 1000 title last spring. She was delighted to announce that he now has `a new brother.`
`Thank you to everyone who sent prayers for Crash,` she wrote, `[and] a huge thank you to the amazing team of veterinarians who cared for Crash and ensured he received the best possible care!`
