Hi Kim,

 

As we spoke, after we got your urgent e-mail about the dog living under the freeway, I sent out the e-mail to my animal rescue network. I got tons of responses for advice, help, etc. This all happened last week, Christmas week.

 

The dog was living under the freeway where they were finishing connecting the 202 in Mesa. The construction crews were feeding him for about two years. The dog was living in the area and hiding and sleeping in drainage ditches, etc. Well, one of the men from the construction crew reached out to the animal network to let us know construction was complete and he was asking for help so the dog could be caught and found a home.

 

 

Roger, yes, our Roger, and a woman named Dani who is on the rescue network, decided they would try to help trap the dog with the help of Denver, the construction crew guy. The dog knew Denver. They were calling the dog "Freeway."  Operation Freeway was scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 28. But Roger went to check on Freeway for a couple days prior to make sure he was safe and had food.

 

Roger and Dani were loaned a humane trap and set out with Denver Sunday morning. They had burgers and bacon to lure Freeway. We all thought it was a longshot given that Freeway was very smart, very cautious and had been on his own most, if not all of his life. They left the trap with the food and walked away so Freeway couldn't see them. Around 1 p.m. they went back and were pleasantly surprised to see Freeway in the humane trap. He obviously was hungry.

I sent an e-mail alert that a foster home was desperately needed. Cheryl from Second Home Pet Resort offered her facility for a couple weeks until a foster can be found. Freeway, now named Ranger, was brought to Second Home by Roger and Dani on Sunday. He was greeted with open arms. He's very docile and sweet and, of course, timid and scared. Cheryl has a lot of experience with dogs such as Ranger and will be working with him. Roger and Dani brought Ranger for a checkup and vaccinations today. He will also be neutered. He did very well. He's about 2 to 3 years old and is possibly a mix of cattle dog and lab.

 

Cheryl wrote today that Ranger is coming along very well, which is surprising since he was a stray for so very long. She thinks he'll make a great pet. However, we do need to find him a foster home and/or forever home, preferrably a quiet home with no children. He does door-dash, which is to be expected now.

 

Anyway, here are two before pictures from when Ranger lived off the freeway. And here are two pictures of Ranger at Second Home Pet Resort in his suite :)

 

If you know of anyone who might want to take him to help him become an amazing pet, let me know.

 

And thank you for sending me the alert. Everyone has been so wonderful in trying to help Ranger. It's always great to have a happy ending in the rescue world, as you well know.

 

Rhona Melsky