Army nurse’s roadside rescue saves badly hurt puppy in South Korea

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — An Army captain and her husband were driving along a dark road outside this U.S. base early this month when they spotted a small shape struggling in traffic.

They stopped and found a badly injured puppy trying unsuccessfully to crawl out of the roadway as vehicles passed, Capt. Angelique Matusz told Stars and Stripes in an interview Thursday at Brian D. Allgood Army Community Hospital.

“The dog was trying to move using her back legs, but she kept kicking herself back into traffic,” she said. “She was bleeding, crying and clearly in a lot of pain.”

Matusz, an intensive care nurse with the 150th Medical Detachment, said her training took over as soon as she reached the puppy with her husband, 1st Sgt. Patrick Piché of Bravo Company, 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion.

“I went straight into nurse mode,” Matusz said. “I checked her breathing, looked for major bleeding, and tried to keep her as still as possible until we could get her help.”

The puppy could not stand and appeared to have multiple broken legs, Matusz said. The couple agreed they could not leave her there that night, Jan. 4.

“If we left her there, we were basically condemning her to death,” Piché said by phone Thursday. “All it took was giving a damn and deciding to do something.”

Capt. Angelique Matusz, an Army nurse, works in her office at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Jan. 15, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)

They drove the puppy to a nearby veterinary clinic, where imaging revealed severe injuries requiring surgery. Veterinarians also determined the dog, about 3 months old, was dehydrated and malnourished.

With medical costs projected at about $3,400, the couple partnered with Rebel Rescue, a local animal rescue group, to launch a GoFundMe campaign to cover treatment. As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign had raised nearly $3,700.

“Within the first day, people had already donated thousands of dollars,” Matusz said. “It was overwhelming to see how many people wanted to help.”

The puppy, whom Matusz and Piché named Luna, is recovering and temporarily staying with them until she can be placed in a permanent home.

Luna recovers at the home of Capt. Angelique Matusz, an Army nurse assigned to Camp Humphreys, South Korea, in this undated photo. (Angelique Matusz)

Luna recovers at the home of Capt. Angelique Matusz, an Army nurse assigned to Camp Humphreys, South Korea, in this undated photo. (Angelique Matusz)

Piché said the experience shows how individual action, even in uncertain or inconvenient moments, can make a difference.

“People think someone else will step in,” he said. “Sometimes you’re the only one there, and that choice matters.”

Several people have already expressed interest in adopting Luna, the couple said.

They hope the story encourages others to act when they encounter animals or people in need, regardless of whether they have military training.

“Do the right thing,” Matusz said. “You never know whose life depends on it.”