The owner of the poor pooch thrown off the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway came forward to claim his beloved dog on Thursday, animal hospital sources said.
“He just reunited with his owner. It’s so cute to see him respond to his real name… His owner is overwhelmed,” said Maria Moss of the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group in Cobble Hill.
Oliver Rivera’s pitbull Wookie, — who was nicknamed Meeker after the street where he landed — ran off without his collar in Greenpoint on Tuesday, Moss said.
Rivera called around to several shelters — then learned by reading the news on Wednesday the dog had survived a 30-foot fall from the BQE at 6:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Moss said.
He contacted the animal hospital at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Moss said.
Someone likely tossed the dog from the overpass while he was away from his owner, Moss said.
The NYPD has launched an investigation to sniff-out the cruel jerk who did it, police sources said Thursday.
Investigators are seeking tips from anyone with information about the coldhearted crime.
The person who tossed the dog could be charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which is a felony, police sources said.
Several witnesses who rushed to save the dog couldn’t see what happened on the overpass above, they said.
Cops at the scene reported a “90 yellow,” meaning no action was taken.
But now the case is under investigation by the 94th precinct, police sources said.
In general, officers take abused animals to the ASPCA but didn’t do so this case because a good samaritan offered to take him to an animal hospital, police sources said.
Witnesses rushed the dog to Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group in Cobble Hill, where he was treated for an injured leg and a lung.
The dog is in stable condition and will stay at the clinic to recover for at least one more day, Moss said.
“If there’s a monster out there who threw a pitbull off an overpass someone had to have seen it, Moss said.
Anyone with information about the crime should call 1-800-577-TIPS.