This is Harrison. Harrison lives with my friends Lizzie and Matt. She enjoys stretching, rolling in goose poop, and catching flies in the house.
But what makes Harrison extra special is where she comes from. Three years ago I was driving on the 110 fwy, in the fast lane, going about 70, the same speed as everyone else. As I was rounding a turn, from my peripheral vision to the left, I saw two black eyes, and a black nose. I had just enough time to see that there was a dog, sitting next to the railing while cars zoomed past just a foot away from her going about 65-70 mph.
Next, I had the most intense adrenaline rush I’ve ever experienced. I immediately exited the fwy, back-tracked and got back on again so I could get to her. I got in the fast lane, put on my hazards, slowed to about 20mph pumping my brakes and honking my horn. When I reached the dog, I stopped. I got out of my car, walked up to the dog, who was dazed and confused. I let her sniff my hand, and then very quickly scooped her up, put her in my car, and immediately drove to the vet.
The doctors found scrapes and scabs, a nasty case of mange and a severe staff infection on her nose, but doing fine otherwise. I promptly took her home to introduce her to my neighbors at the time, Matt and Lizzie. Harrison looked so pitiful with a fly buzzing around her face, that they couldn’t say no!
Matt and Lizzie adopted Harrison on the spot! They rehabbed her and now she is swimming in salt-water pools, sleeping on designer beds, and enjoying a badminton game or two by the sidelines.
In hindsight, I realize what I did to rescue Hare Dog was very dangerous. Here are a few phone numbers for help with an endangered or distressed animal in the Portland area:
Injured Wildlife Hotline:
(503) 292-0304
Injured Kitties or Canines:
(503) 228-7281
Report Animal Cruelty:
Call 911 if you are witnessing animal cruelty in progress. Animal Cruelty is a CRIME. Learn more here.
If the situation is too dangerous for you to rescue a dog or cat, Animal Control may help. The animal will be placed in shelter intake for three days so as to give it's owner a chance to come to claim their animal.
1-503-988-7387 (press 1 to report an emergency)
Harrison says, "Thank You!"
Wow, I'm amazed that you got her, but I guess she wanted to be "got".
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience some years ago on the 101 near downtown LA, but after spending hours trying and coming close enough to give her water, I still couldn't get her. I was so new to LA that I didn't even know whether or not animal control would help since the policeman who stopped couldn't. She ran off to the center divider, dodging oncoming traffic somehow, and though I didn't see her get hit, she probably eventually did.
So I always wonder now, when I hear stories like yours of dogs saved on busy and dangerous freeways, how did they do it?
Yes, it's true, it's been my experience that the dog has to be exhausted enough to be captured. Harrison was exhausted. As soon as I got her in the car, she was asleep.
ReplyDelete