Rescuing a stray dog can often prove to be a difficult endeavor. Many believe these animals just wait patiently to be rescued.
While that thought does have some truth, it’s important to remember that these dogs can be deeply afraid of human contact, typically stemming from some form of prior abuse.
This fear makes the rescue process exceedingly challenging. In this tale, we’ll recount the journey of a woman from California who dedicated three years to capturing a frightened stray dog.
A Three-Year Mission
Returning home from a walk with her dog, Kristine noticed something unusual in the distance. It appeared to be a sizable animal.
It soon became clear that it was a big dog. It seemed to be calling out for help, and Kristine couldn’t ignore it.
She rushed inside, grabbed some dog food, and placed it just outside her fence so the frightened dog could approach and eat.
Kristine maintained this routine for an extended period. She told The Dodo: Every morning and evening, I would leave food for her.
This persistence lasted nearly three years. Despite her efforts to catch the dog, it always seemed too scared and would dart away whenever anyone got close.
This didn’t discourage Kristine, though. She kept providing food daily and resolved to keep trying.
With winter approaching, a new idea sparked. She decided to get a dog house placed next to her property in California.
The hope was that this would coax the dog to feel a bit more comfortable and offer a warm, safe space to rest.
Unfortunately, the plan didn’t pan out as expected. After eating, the dog would not approach the house at all.
Things were getting tough. Kristine understood she needed to find out where the dog was heading after it ate, so she could devise a strategy to reach out to her.
A Successful Rescue Mission
She shared this dog’s story, later named Lulu, hoping that someone would step in to assist with the rescue.
Eventually, a man named Matthew heard the call and stepped up to help. With extensive experience in rescuing dogs, he was well-equipped for the task at hand.
He remarked: It became an obsession immediately.
Matthew was driven to aid this poor dog and, through persistence, managed to get close enough to her for her to take the food he offered.
Then came a clever plan. To catch Lulu, they needed to figure out how to put a leash on her.
Matthew devised a makeshift solution, laying the leash out in the grass so that as Lulu walked over it, the leash would attach.
Ultimately, the plan succeeded. After being caught, Lulu seemed to give up her instincts to flee, realizing Kristine and Matthew genuinely meant her no harm.
Matthew recounted: I was able to calm her down and put a slip lead on her.
Upon seeing Lulu, Kristine embraced her tightly, showering her with kisses and affection. Lulu relished the attention and affection.
Not long after her rescue, Lulu found her forever home with Laura and Molly, who were excited to provide her with a loving environment.
Even after her adoption, Kristine and Matthew continued to visit her, and Lulu loved their visits, knowing they were the two wonderful people who had rescued her.
