Being a big black-and-white puppy makes hiding difficult, but Fergie, a 2-year-old, thought she had no other option. She snuggled up beneath a mat of weeds and waited for someone to discover her because she had been abandoned in the woods and was unsure of her surroundings.
Fortunately, a kind person passing by the forested area noticed the puppy just in time and alerted the Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) team for assistance.
“At first, I didn’t really see her anywhere,” Donna Lochmann, SRSL’s chief life saving officer, told The Dodo. “But I went back the next day and sure enough there she was, still in the weeds.”
When they first met, Fergie wasn’t sure how to feel about her rescuer. She had been on her own outside for some time and was obviously in survival mode; she was unsure about Lochmann’s reliability at the time. The terrified pup then got to his feet and began growling at Lochmann.
Lochmann then realized that something wasn’t right.
“I realized that she wasn’t using her front right leg,” Lochmann said. “She was clearly injured.”
In addition to being harmed, Fergie was encircled by a mass of dense foliage and entangled vines. Lochmann tried something else because she understood that trying to catch the pup by putting a slip lead around her neck wouldn’t be the best idea.
“I thought it’d be easier to set a trap and see if she went in,” Lochmann said. “So I got a bunch of fresh fried chicken and put it in one of my traps.”
The pup was famished, but she was also cautious of the trap. Lochmann was shocked to discover that the chicken and the trap had been abandoned when she went back to check on her.
However, Fergie was no longer at the same location in the weeds. She had found her way to an abandoned home nearby and had taken up residence along its foundation.
Lochmann changed his strategy in an effort to save the dog. The seasoned rescuer chose to gain Fergie’s trust by speaking in a soft and encouraging tone rather than trying to catch her when she was unaware.
“I got down on my knees where she could see me and just tried talking to her a bit,” Lochmann said. “She didn’t get up and try to run away from me this time.”
Fergie spoke to Lochmann as he crept softly toward her. Lochmann carefully tossed the end of a leash in Fergie’s direction and comforted her that everything was going to be okay when she was finally close enough to approach the puppy.
Here, you can hear Lochmann speaking with Fergie:
“I kind of did that a couple of times and said, ‘See, it’s a leash,’” Lochmann said.
Lochmann tried putting the leash over Fergie’s head but she didn’t react to it. She was surprised to see the leash snap into place with barely any resistance from the terrified dog.
“She pretty much just shut down,” Lochmann said. “She must’ve been so exhausted from being alone for so long.”
After securing Fergie’s safety, Lochmann immediately took the dog to the doctor. Fergie tested positive for parvo in addition to her shoulder damage, which will necessitate an amputation.
Lochmann claims that the pup became seriously ill the same night that she was saved, but fortunately she received treatment straight away.
“She’s not completely out of the woods yet, but she did just start eating, so she seems to be on the mend,” Lochmann said.
Although Fergie still has a long way to go before she can find a forever home, the lucky dog is exactly where she needs to be to recover. Fergie is anticipated to make a full recovery with a ton of love and care from her SRSL carers.
Although it will be difficult for employees like Lochmann to say goodbye to Fergie, they will be relieved to know that she is now living the life she deserves.
Source: The Dodo
