Lost dog gathers clues to find family

A friend forwarded an email to me a couple of weeks ago! It's an amazing story, with a lovely end that I wanted to share with you!

The Love Me Tender Animal Rescue in Tennessee took in Ella, a Rottweiler who had been found, emaciated, along a highway. The rescue workers didn't think that Ella was a stray, but really felt like she had a family somewhere. One of them, Kathy, decided to do a little sleuthing to find out what had happened for Ella to wind up on that highway.

Kathy went to the highway where they had found Ella and started seeing some clues. She found broken glass and tail lights, right near the spot. She then found a stranger pile of items - including a toothbrush, comb, a candle.

Kathy remember that there had been a really horrible accident near that same spot on the highway. She wondered if Ella had anything to do with the family involved in the crash. Kathy had actually seen the crash, and thought that most likely, no one had survived. She called the highway patrol to inquire in case her hunch about Ella was correct.

The family in the accident had indeed survived, and Ella was their dog. She hadn't been found in the chaos of the crash scene, but she remained near the scene and gathered up family items that she knew belonged to her humans!

The family was, of course, ecstatic to find out that Ella had also survived and had been found. Kathy, besides helping figure out the mystery of Ella, has also done another great thing for the family. They were forced to move into a place that doesn't accept dogs (following the crash and all of the medical details, etc.) Kathy is fostering Ella for them  until they are ready to take her home again!

I love hearing such cool stories as this one - and with such a wonderful outcome! Have you ever experienced anything like this? Someone rescuing your pet for you? Or have you been in a car accident with your pet along? I hadn't thought about that happening. I don't know how to best protect your pet in that case. Something to really think about! (photo from CBS.com)

--Tammy

Comments

[Laurel]

I saw this story, too, Tammy and it really touched me. I could imagine this dog finding the scent of her humans on these items and essentially making a new home for herself based on her little stash. Who says dogs don't have emotions or abilities to problem solve, etc?

I've never been in an accident with a pet but I do have recurring dreams of being in a tornado or other natural disaster and having to keep all my pets together in the chaos without leashes, crates, etc. It's really hard to do and truly frightening! I hate those dreams!

One of our dogs jumped our fence during a fourth of July celebration many, many years ago when we were in college. We didn't find her for two weeks when someone responded to an ad we'd placed in the local newspaper. It was a joyful reunion and we learned an important lesson about keeping our dogs safe.

It is a good idea to come up with some way of notifying police and rescue workers that there is an animal in the car with you in case you have an accident. Perhaps another product for World by the Tail to offer pet parents! We'll talk about it!

[jan]

It's so great when people will go so far to help "just a dog." I hope they all can live together soon.

[Dana]

This story would make an exellent book or movie! What a wonderul outcome and I'm so impressed by the ones trying to solve the mystery.