A young dog tied to a log holds on for dear life, abandoned in a remote part of the Erie Canal in Rome, New York. Shivering and scared, she wondered if this was to be the end. Thankfully, a passerby spotted the shepherd-husky mix and came to her rescue. The person called Rome Animal control to come out and get the poor dog. When the officer arrived on scene, they found River intentionally tied to the log by her own leash. River was released from the log she’d been tied to and taken to Central New York SPCA.
Image by CNY SPCA
“The log was partially submerged in the water, and she was hanging on to the log with her front feet, and her head propped up,” Dee Schaefer, humane educator at the CNY SPCA, told The Dodo. “That whole area is under a flash flood watch. It’s a low-lying area, but had she not been taken out before this past weekend, she probably would have drowned.”
It was clear River was hungry for affection.
“She was nervous when she arrived, but she’s really come out of her shell in the last two days that she’s been here. She’s an absolutely wonderful dog. Very, very sweet,” Schaefer said. “I don’t think there’s anybody she’s met here that she hasn’t liked.”
Image by WKTV
Shelter Workers Look for Justice for River.
At 1 year old, River is a ball of energy, and ready to play at any moment. Despite what she’s been through, she remains a trusting and happy dog. “When you pet her, she immediately just leans right into it,” Schaefer added. “She’s also very interested in her surroundings — when she goes outside, she loves to sniff.”
Image by CNY SPCA
Still, people who work at the shelter want justice. River was found to have no microchip. It leaves no leads into her past life. Shelter workers, however, did release her photo to local news reporters in hopes of finding her owners. Soon after, tips came in.
Allegedly, River’s owner paid a man $50 to get rid of her, according to Schaefer. Both have been arrested and charged with a Class A misdemeanor for animal abandonment.
“He just didn’t want the dog anymore, and instead of taking it to one of the two shelters in the area they decided to tie her up,” Schaefer said. “He didn’t think he’d be in trouble because he didn’t actually do it.”
Dog Tied to a Log Looking for a Forever Home
Image by CNY SPCA
Since the news report, River has been made available for adoption. She acquired a fair amount of admirers from those following her heartbreaking story. “We’ve had a lot of phone calls on her already,” Schaefer said.
Currently the shelter is trying to match this sweet dog’s personality with the right owner. They want someone who will love and care for River for the rest of her life. They want to be sure that, this time, River has a forever person who will never change their mind.
Featured Image by CNY SPCA
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