It was cold – freezing cold. On this February 1, the temperature had bottomed out at -29 degrees for the night in Minnesota. A call came in from Teresa Gunter on the Leech Lake Reservation that a dog was in serious trouble.
Tribal police chief Kenneth Washington got that call. He knew Gunter to be fond of animals and that she had a special love for dogs. Gunter said that the dog was badly wounded, stunned with pain and was suffering outside in the freezing cold.
Gunter showed Washington the weakened, suffering, bloody shepherd mix. Washington was alarmed at the poor creature’s condition because the dog was unable to life his head.
Washington recalls, “His eyes were sunken in. I thought he might die.”
One thing was certain – Washington had to help.
Fortunately, the Tribal Police do whatever they can to help animals. They work with a project called Leech Lake Legacy. With Legacy, animals in desperate need are transported from the reservation to shelters, rescues or foster care in Minnesota where excellent veterinary care, rehabilitation and adoption are provided.
So, when Washington saw this dog, named Nibi, he contacted Leech Lake Legacy immediately. In a short time, Nibi was transported to help and safety.
It is about a month since Gunter and Washington rescued Nibi. It is a joy to see the dog thriving, regaining his health. He is happy to see people and greets them enthusiastically.
Nibi’s special way of “holding hands” is to lightly take the person’s hand in his mouth and greet them.
The ASPCA partially supports the transport project. It helps cash-short municipal animal care agencies to move more dogs to safety. In this way, the ASPCA and the Tribal Police have been able to relocate more dogs to obtain help, to safety and to find adoptive homes.
Nice going Nibi.
Source: ASPCA
If you enjoyed this article by Heidi Rucki, please click the link above to subscribe and get others. It’s free, informative and anonymous. Read Rucki's articles on Examiner.com and visit her website, www.DressYourHorse.com.
Comments