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Top Pets · Rescue Grant
Caryn Salapka
Animal trapper, rescuer and foster!
Trapping Day 3-23-2025
1 yr Trapiversary 3-23-26
Long road to recovery
Back on March 9 2025, I recieved a message from a friend looking for help. Her son captured a quick video of what appeared to be a dog in desperate need of help. I work with various rescues in our area with fostering/trapping/recovery, so she asked me for help.
My associates and I were wrapping up another recovery of 2 dumped GSDs but decided to see if we could lay eyes on this dog and put up some signs in this rural area.
The following week I was informed of another dog, quite a few miles away, although the description was the same. I was shocked when I showed the picture and the reporting person confirmed it was the same dog. Had he traveled that far? I decided to place a post out onto FB and hang some signs with just the very limited info of "skinny white dog with brown spot" ... just to see if I could get any hits. Well boy did I get the hits.
Report after report rolled in about this dog and that he had been seen for MONTHS from one end of the county to the other. Descriptions all matched of the same "skin and bones white dog with brown spots". Usually seen at dead animal sites. Is this what he was surviving on all these months? The more signs we posted the more responses we got and we started to develop his pattern. One report even saying "I saw that dog months ago, I can't believe he is still alive."
We dont have Animal Control in Mason County so nothing was done.
My associates and I decided we would start putting out some feeding stations based on his standard route/sightings.
It took a while but FINALLY, I saw him! This dog I had only heard about for so long. The folks at the local dump station confirmed that he would show up every few days and so that became our plan. Set a trap at the dump. The folks at the dump were very accommodating in giving us full access 24/7. It took a few days but the live photos started streaming in. It was happening. He was at the trap. And then BAM on March 23rd, WE GOT HIM. As we jumped in the car I prayed he was a nice pup.
As we approached the trap we could see his horrible condition. We loaded the trap and all into the truck and brought him to our quarantine kennel in our garage. We opened the trap door and gave him some time to enter the kennel. He was frozen but after a couple hours we got him into the kennel. I made sure it was quiet and dark and warm. After a few more hours I decided to enter the large kennel and just sit with him. He is a big boy and even though he was thin ( about 45 lbs ), he was still a bit intimidating. I began to pet his head slowly and add more blankets to dry and warm him. He had been on the run for approx 4 months and was so tired. We connected that night.
Over the next few days we started a refeeding protocol. We got him to the vet and got his dozens and dozens of ticks removed. We gave him a bath and got to know each other. Over the next few weeks and months we worked on gaining weight and introducing him to our pack and just letting him rest. To our surprise he was neutered and chipped. Although with an STL chip and they went out of business just a few months prior and closed their database.
Fast forward a year... Spot is still looking for his furever home. He is not a fit for just any home.
Spot is a LOVER. He loves to snuggle and hold hands. He loves car rides. The way he sleeps in bed, we dont know how he made it out their especially during those cold snowy winter months!
Thank you for letting us share Spot's Story!
My associates and I were wrapping up another recovery of 2 dumped GSDs but decided to see if we could lay eyes on this dog and put up some signs in this rural area.
The following week I was informed of another dog, quite a few miles away, although the description was the same. I was shocked when I showed the picture and the reporting person confirmed it was the same dog. Had he traveled that far? I decided to place a post out onto FB and hang some signs with just the very limited info of "skinny white dog with brown spot" ... just to see if I could get any hits. Well boy did I get the hits.
Report after report rolled in about this dog and that he had been seen for MONTHS from one end of the county to the other. Descriptions all matched of the same "skin and bones white dog with brown spots". Usually seen at dead animal sites. Is this what he was surviving on all these months? The more signs we posted the more responses we got and we started to develop his pattern. One report even saying "I saw that dog months ago, I can't believe he is still alive."
We dont have Animal Control in Mason County so nothing was done.
My associates and I decided we would start putting out some feeding stations based on his standard route/sightings.
It took a while but FINALLY, I saw him! This dog I had only heard about for so long. The folks at the local dump station confirmed that he would show up every few days and so that became our plan. Set a trap at the dump. The folks at the dump were very accommodating in giving us full access 24/7. It took a few days but the live photos started streaming in. It was happening. He was at the trap. And then BAM on March 23rd, WE GOT HIM. As we jumped in the car I prayed he was a nice pup.
As we approached the trap we could see his horrible condition. We loaded the trap and all into the truck and brought him to our quarantine kennel in our garage. We opened the trap door and gave him some time to enter the kennel. He was frozen but after a couple hours we got him into the kennel. I made sure it was quiet and dark and warm. After a few more hours I decided to enter the large kennel and just sit with him. He is a big boy and even though he was thin ( about 45 lbs ), he was still a bit intimidating. I began to pet his head slowly and add more blankets to dry and warm him. He had been on the run for approx 4 months and was so tired. We connected that night.
Over the next few days we started a refeeding protocol. We got him to the vet and got his dozens and dozens of ticks removed. We gave him a bath and got to know each other. Over the next few weeks and months we worked on gaining weight and introducing him to our pack and just letting him rest. To our surprise he was neutered and chipped. Although with an STL chip and they went out of business just a few months prior and closed their database.
Fast forward a year... Spot is still looking for his furever home. He is not a fit for just any home.
Spot is a LOVER. He loves to snuggle and hold hands. He loves car rides. The way he sleeps in bed, we dont know how he made it out their especially during those cold snowy winter months!
Thank you for letting us share Spot's Story!