After a weekend search on Lookout Mountain, dog with jug stuck on his head is now safe
An endangered dog spotted with a jug over its head is safe now after as many as 35 people searched this weekend until they found him, said Jolene Fagin of Fagin's Haven Rescue.
The search began Saturday after Brittany Dunn saw the dog while delivering mail on Scenic Highway. She pulled over and, with an assist from a man in the area, tried to help the dog. "The dog wouldn't come to either of us," Dunn said.
She saw the dog a few more times as she continued on her mail route and tried again to help but he wouldn't let her get close to him.
After Dunn took a photo of the dog and circulated it on Facebook, other people started searching. Finding the dog quickly was essential because searchers had no way of knowing how long its head had been stuck in the jug. The clear container was large enough to cover the dog's head, giving it no access to water or food.
Fagin saw the post and shared it, and after her efforts Saturday weren't successful, she began to organize the search. Eventually, there were about 35 people looking for the dog, who was spotted in the 2600 block of Fairview Road.
"We'd pass one another and stop to talk," Fagin said. When they spotted the dog again, it was around the 4800 block of Scenic, and it was mail carrier Ashley Smith who was able to get hands on him and remove the jug.
"Ashley was the rock star today," Fagin said.
Dunn said Smith tackled the dog to be able to free him. He got away again, Fagin said, and they had to chase him again, catching up to him on Meighan Boulevard.
"This little boy has traveled a lot in the last few days," Fagin said.
The dog was tired and hungry, Fagin said, but otherwise seemed to be OK. She said it was not apparent whether the dog was a stray or had been dumped in the area. She speculated there might have been a cheese puff or two in the jug, or maybe the smell alone led the dog to stick his head in.
There were a lot of tears, she said, when they found the dog and had him safe.
"I was bawling my eyes out," Fagin said. She was grateful for the outcome and for the people who came out to search. She said the people of Gadsden impressed her Sunday with their response to the animal's plight.
Chris Moulds shared the photo, too, and assisted with the search. Now that the dog has been found, Moulds said he's going to facilitate placing the dog, whether someone claims him, adopts him or he goes to a rescue group.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden volunteers find, save dog with head trapped in a jug
