‘Gentle giant will be missed dearly’: Bridgewater rescue dog dies after being hit by car
BRIDGEWATER — Linus, the 6-year-old white Boxer that was hit by a car in Bridgewater last week, died as a result of his injuries early Sunday morning, according to Linus’ owner, Melissa Guisti.
The accident occurred on Oak Street on the morning of Tuesday, April 30. Less than a week later, on May 5, Linus succumbed to his injuries.
Guisti and her husband, Mike, who moved to Bridgewater in February, are devastated.
“We are so sad and we miss him dearly,” Melissa Guisti said. “It’s hardest at bedtime because the three of us used to all wake up together, and now it’s just us two.”
The Guistis, who rescued Linus in 2019, describe him as "the sweetest dog in the world."
"Everybody who meets Linus falls in love with him right away. He’s just a bundle of joy. He's so loving,” Melissa Guisti said.
What happened to Linus? Who's at fault?
According to Guisti, contractors from Rhino Roofing in Quincy were working on their home when they left a gate open after being told to keep it closed for Linus’ safety. Linus, who was prone to escape, made it to Oak Street where he was hit by a driver.
The driver who hit Linus told police Linus bolted in front of the car. Despite earlier rumors, he stayed on scene until police arrived.
As of Wednesday morning, Guisti said that the driver who hit Linus is not facing any charges that she knows of.
The contractors who left the gate open initially agreed to contribute to Linus’ medical costs, but ultimately went back on their word, Guisti said.
What was Linus’ cause of death?
Linus was initially transported to New England Medical Center in West Bridgewater by Bridgewater police.
According to Guisti, Linus had a dislocated hip, a punctured lung, bruising to his lungs and heart and two of his teeth were knocked out. Later that night, he was transferred to VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in Weymouth.
In the days following the accident, Linus seemed to be stabilizing, until the Guistis got a devastating call at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
“They said he needed a chest X-ray because he was having trouble breathing,” Guisti said. “During the X-ray, he stopped breathing all together. They started to resuscitate him while we were on the phone, but we stopped after a few minutes and let him go."
Even if veterinarians had managed to successfully resuscitate Linus, after going so long without oxygen, the damage to Linus’ quality of life would have been permanent, Guisti said.
“We drove to the hospital and were able to sit with his body to say goodbye,” she said.
Bridgewater community shows support
“If there is any silver lining, it’s that we learned that there is so much good in people. The Bridgewater community has been wonderful to us,” Guisti said. “We have felt so much love and support this past week. We truly have wonderful neighbors and they have helped us through this immensely."
While Linus was still receiving treatment, the community raised more than $2,600 for his mounting medical bills. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude by your support. We know how loved he was by us, but we’re learning how much more love is out there for him,” Guisti wrote on a GoFundMe page created for Linus. “We are forever grateful.”
Remembering Linus
After hearing news of Linus’ passing, neighbors, friends and family who knew Linus wrote in to share their happier memories of the beloved boxer.
“He was the goodest boy and sweet with every person he met, said the Giusti’s former neighbor, Katie Lewis. “I’d see him often when Mike or Melissa would be out walking him, and he always brought a smile to my face. He was sweet and silly and just a big bundle of love."
Another of the Guisti’s former neighbors, Gail Rowinski, remembers how Linus would play with her dog Tucker.
“Linus was so gentle for a big dog and Tucker always became quite excited to catch up with him,” she said. “Linus is a gentle giant that will be missed dearly.”
“Linus was such a sweet goofball,” Linus’ dog walker Maria Georgakopoulos said. “He never failed to bring a smile to my face with that little nub of a tail wagging. He was so full of love and joy and made everyone he met truly feel as if they were his new best friend. Linus is going to be missed by so many people.”
"So many people have described Linus as a sweet dog," Melissa Guisti's mother, Rhonda John, said. "Sweet is the best adjective to describe him. He had such a warm, friendly personality. He loved to snuggle. If you sat on the couch, he would sit as close to you as possible. In fact, he always made sure some part of him was on your lap. My daughter and son in-law provided a wonderful, loving home for Linus. He was their baby. It breaks my heart to see them so devasted by their loss."
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Boxer dog Linus dies after being hit by car in Bridgewater
