Injured Stray Dog Rescued Thanks to Group Effort

MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – A scared and injured stray dog is now safe and sound, thanks to the dedication of volunteers and Rescue For Life Dog Rescue.

“River” was caught on Thursday, October 6 on the property of Marty & Laura Lee on Hwy Y after being on the run for at least a week. She was spotted limping at the end of Lincoln-Spencer and Bobwhite near Chili Carwash, but in “survival mode” was not letting anyone get close enough to help.

“We named her ‘River’ because the initial sighting was in a small creek, however she covered the span of several miles of farmland and woods everyday trying her best to survive,” said Kelly Gunderson, President and Founder of Rescue for Life. “She was limping pretty bad and we assumed she was old and very arthritic as we couldn’t see any open wounds on her. However, after she was rescued, it was very clear that she’s actually only 4-5 years old.”

Gunderson, who is also a Lost Dogs of Wisconsin Caseworker based in Dorchester, helped set up a “baiting station” and camera – working locally with Clorissa Schmitt, Brittany Schueller, and fellow Lost Dogs of Wisconsin Caseworker Jennifer Brock.

The same day the “baiting station” was set up, River was sighted walking down the middle of HWY Y.

“We had a group chat of the volunteers helping setup and Brittany rushed out there to get her off the road and get eyes on her until I could get there,” said Gunderson. “She took refuge in a field behind a house right on Hwy Y. We let her just stay and rest there. After nothing at the bait station overnight, Gunderson and her sister Kendra spoke with the homeowners Marty & Laura Lee on Hwy Y who owned the property that River had made herself at home at and received full permission to move the bait station and whatever needed to get her to safety.”

Gunderson went out twice a day (morning and night) at the exact same time each day and would cook food on a portable grill for River and hang out with her building a relationship. River would come close to eat the bacon and other canned food, and though she’d sniff Gunderson curiously she would not permit her to do more.

“I could tell it was getting harder each day for her to walk. She couldn’t walk in tall grass at all. She had taken up sleeping behind the wood shed at the house during the day,” said Gunderson.

Then finally, the volunteers had success.

The morning River was caught, Gunderson completed her normal routine of grilling River breakfast – but she didn’t come out to eat. At this point, River was now routinely sleeping on a dog bed on the property owner’s deck at night and by the woodshed during the day but could still not be approached. However, this morning was different.

“River was sleeping and she was sleeping pretty heavy. She was very sore and it was windy and cool so she was curled up to the tall grass edge on two sides. Which only left two sides open for her to be able to ‘get away’ if we walked up on her,” said Gunderson.

The homeowner Laura and Gunderson walked quietly right up and River opened her eyes and just laid there.

“She just gave up. She finally trusted me enough to know I was there to help her,” said

Gunderson.

After slipping the slip leash around her neck, River rolled over to present her belly for rubs and started wagging her tail. She could barely get up, though, and was shivering. Gunderson and Laura put River in a vehicle right away to get her warmed up on her dog bed.

A visit to the vet revealed River was limping due to the excruciating pain of an infection in every single one of her toes, the result of a severe yeast infection throughout her whole body.

“She was walking through rough woods and gravel all those days just to survive on feet double the size they were supposed to be and bleeding pads. On top of that, she had hair loss due to the yeast infection causing skin infection – we wonder how she stayed warm at night,” said Gunderson. “She also tested positive for Lyme’s disease and Anaplasmosis (a tick-borne illness), and severe ear infection in both ears. She is now up to date on vaccinations as well.”

River is micro-chipped, but the owner never registered the chip. Gunderson is working with the vet who micro-chipped her and the rescue who adopted her out from Texas back in 2018 where they kept paper records.

“We may never know how she got to Wisconsin or how she got lost. But one thing is certain: even if we can’t find her owner, she will never have to suffer another cold night or that excruciating pain again,” said Gunderson. “We caught her as a community with the sightings being reported and sharing all over social media. The community came together with volunteers who didn’t know each other before River brought all of us together. It does take a community to save lives. And River is very thankful for this community and its kindness!”

There is a Facebook Fundraiser set up for River at this link. Follow their page for health updates and information on when River will be available for adoption if no owner is found.

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