LAWRENCE - A Salem, N.H., woman rescued a black Labrador retriever puppy that was thrown from a truck into traffic on Route 28 during yesterday's fierce storm.

Police are now looking for the driver of the white box truck who abandoned the starving, collarless 8-month-old female pup in front of Brian Hardware at 332 Broadway (Route 28).

"He just picked up the dog and threw it out of the truck ... then he drove off," said Marie Pacheco, who rescued the dog around 9:30 a.m. "I said to myself, 'Something's not right here.' So I drove down to the next intersection, turned around and went back and got the dog."

The starving dog jumped right into her car and started drinking her coffee and looking around for food. She had a bag of unpopped popcorn on the passenger's seat, which the dog ripped open and tried to eat.

"He was definitely malnutritioned and definitely abused," said Pacheco, who has two dogs of her own, a golden retriever, Tessie, and a Shih Tzu named Murphy.

Pacheco drove the dog to the Lawrence police station and told patrolmen what had happened. Animal Control Officer Ellen Bistany was called, and Patrolman Thomas Cuddy began looking for the driver of the box truck. Pacheco was unable to take down a license plate, but she did notice the white truck had black lettering on the side.

"I just couldn't believe it when I saw the driver take off in the middle of a blizzard like this," she said. "I just had to do something."

Normally, Pacheco said she leaves for work at a Danvers insurance company around 6:30 a.m. She was running late yesterday due to the snow. "I even debated going into work at all," she said. "Things really happen for a reason."

The box truck driver is facing an animal cruelty charge, which carries a $2,500 fine and possible five-year jail sentence.

Police Chief John Romero praised Pacheco's actions.

"This was really a nice thing to do. This dog faced danger not only in the elements but she could have been hit by a car," he said. "And shame on the person who would abuse a dog in this way. This isn't just cruel - it's criminal."

Police hope to find other witnesses who can help them find the driver of the box truck.

Meanwhile, the puppy, affectionately named Blizz by police officers, will stay at the Lawrence shelter. She'll get checked out by a veterinarian and be given numerous small meals to fatten her up. Bistany gave her some hot dogs and dog biscuits yesterday when she arrived at the station.

"She's definitely hungry, but she has no signs of frostbite and her gums look good," Bistany said.

Bistany said there is absolutely no reason a dog should be abandoned this way. The MSPCA on Route 28 in Methuen never refuses an animal.

"And I've never refused an animal," Bistany said.

Anyone with information about this case should call 978-794-5900, ext. 640, or Bistany at 978-794-5856.