A Lecompton resident’s Chihuahua is recovering from a life-threatening attack by a Rottweiler Saturday, and people are coming forward to help.

Po, the Chihuahua, suffered puncture wounds and broken ribs Saturday when the larger dog wandered into his yard and attacked him, biting him several times.

Rushed to Bradley Animal Hospital, Po survived surgery, and his owner, Heather Anderson, of Lecompton, said he is looking better each day. Even so, Po will require days or weeks of care, and the cost of the veterinary treatment will run in the thousands of dollars — bills Anderson says she can’t afford to pay.

She didn’t ask for help, but some Douglas County residents such as Josh Hunt, of Lawrence, heard about Po and came forward. They are organizing others who want to chip in a few dollars so that neither Anderson nor the animal hospital are stuck with all of the cost. Hunt said he got involved because, as the owner of two small Chihuahuas named Pablo and Clover, it was easy for him to imagine how upsetting the incident was.

Anderson was at work about 2 p.m. when she began receiving calls from her neighbors and her landlord telling her of the dog attack. Two of her children were at home when it happened.

“They were devastated,” Anderson said. “It was horrible to get that call at work with my kids screaming in the background.”

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrived to put the Rottweiler into the custody of the Lawrence Humane Society while Po was transported to the animal hospital.

At the time, Sgt. Steve Lewis of the sheriff’s office said Po’s chances of surviving were “fifty-fifty” at best, but the dog has clung to life.

He’s not out of the woods yet, staff at the animal hospital said, and he’ll remain there for some time. Meanwhile, Hunt and others have raised a few hundred dollars already to put toward the hospital bills.

“Even if we make a dent, every little bit helps,” he said.

The Rottweiler, facing charges from the sheriff’s office as a repeat offender, has been euthanized by the Humane Society with consent of the owner, said Dori Villalon, executive director of the non-profit organization. The former rescue dog had a history of abuse by a previous owner and was on record at the Humane Society as a prior offender, having previously attacked a Pomeranian.

To reach Heather Anderson, send email to go_junior_88@yahoo.com.