( CNN ) Never mind cats having nine lives . A stray pooch in Washington State has used up at least three of her own after being hit by a car , apparently whacked on the head with a hammer in a misguided mercy killing and then buried in a field -- only to survive . That 's according to Washington State University , where the dog -- a friendly white-and-black bully breed mix now named Theia -- has been receiving care at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital . Four days after her apparent death , the dog managed to stagger to a nearby farm , dirt-covered and emaciated , where she was found by a worker who took her to a vet for help . She was taken in by Moses Lake , Washington , resident Sara Mellado . `` Considering everything that she 's been through , she 's incredibly gentle and loving , '' Mellado said , according to WSU News . `` She 's a true miracle dog and she deserves a good life . '' Theia is only one year old but the dog 's brush with death did not leave her unscathed . She suffered a dislocated jaw , leg injuries and a caved-in sinus cavity -- and still requires surgery to help her breathe . The veterinary hospital 's Good Samaritan Fund committee awarded some money to help pay for the dog 's treatment , but Mellado has set up a fundraising page to help meet the remaining cost of the dog 's care . She 's also created a Facebook page to keep supporters updated . Donors have already surpassed the $ 10,000 target , inspired by Theia 's tale of survival against the odds . On the fundraising page , Mellado writes , `` She is in desperate need of extensive medical procedures to fix her nasal damage and reset her jaw . I agreed to foster her until she finally found a loving home . '' She is dedicated to making sure Theia gets the medical attention she needs , Mellado adds , and wants to `` make sure she gets placed in a family where this will never happen to her again ! '' Any additional funds raised will be `` paid forward '' to help other animals . Theia is not the only animal to apparently rise from the grave in recent weeks . A cat in Tampa , Florida , found seemingly dead after he was hit by a car in January , showed up alive in a neighbor 's yard five days after he was buried by his owner . The cat was in bad shape , with maggots covering open wounds on his body and a ruined left eye , but remarkably survived with the help of treatment from the Humane Society .
Theia , a bully # ##er , was apparently hit by a car , struck with a hammer and thrown in a field . ` ` She 's a true miracle ’ and she deserves a good life , '' says Sara ##ia , who is looking for a home for Theia .