We were contacted by the Ribble Valley dog warden to see if we could help with a stray German Shepherd type dog. This was in Longridge PR3. She had been seen straying for at least a week and if anyone tried to approach her she would bolt.
On Saturday 24 May we made our way there, decided where the best place was for the trap and set it up. Lots of appetising food was put inside and a scent trail was done to help the dog find the food and the trap. When we had finished we drove away and waited around for a while but she didn’t show (we have live cameras at the traps so we know straight away if the dog comes to the trap). Setting off home, we arranged with Jonathan (dog warden) for someone to get to the trap immediately should she trap.
My notifications went off during the night with cats visiting the trap and then the dog. She went into the trap and started to feed. I tried to activate the trap so I could close the door (electronically via an app on my phone) but it said the trap was offline! Frustratingly I had to watch her walk out of the trap. The good thing though was that she would come back. She was comfortable going into the trap and now had a food source. She visited again a couple of hours later and went with ease into the trap. Her visits during the night enabled us to see that she was heavily pregnant!
So again, on Sunday, we made our way there. I found what the problem was with the trap not activating (the battery was fully charged but faulty and not powering the electrics) so I put a different battery on. We loaded the trap with more food and freshly cooked chicken then drove away a mile down the road and waited.
Two hours later she came to the trap and went straight inside. I activated it and the door closed. Initially she panicked as they usually do, and we never like to see that, but then the food became her priority and she went back to it and fed.
We got there within minutes and she was frightened to see me come to the trap as expected. It was only me so we wouldn’t alarm her with too many people and she paced up and down the trap panting and stressed. I sat down with no eye contact and away from the trap initially and she calmed down and sat down. I was then able to go closer and speak to her. I put my fingers through the bars and she gave me a lick. I phoned Ruby, a new volunteer, who was there with me but waiting in her car to come and Ruby had to then grapple with the herd of cows who were very curious and had come to the wall (where we accessed the trap area) watching (see photo) .
Then once the dog was settled when Ruby came, I went into the trap with the dog and put slip leads onto her. When she came out of the trap she tried to bolt but we were ready and we got her to the van and safely inside. We went to the kennels and saw her settle in a lovely large kennel where she will soon give birth. Safe at last.
We were asked to name her so she is now called Elsa. She was not chipped. We are sure she’s been abandoned and she was seen running after a car a week ago thinking it was her owner (it wasn’t). It’s heart breaking to see her go through this and knowing how confused and frightened she must have been. If she had not been spotted by people (it was a rural area so that could have been likely) she would have had to give birth alone and frightened out there. This was one of our most satisfying trappings knowing what the outcome would have been if we hadn’t have been successful. She is a beautiful girl and although frightened, she showed a very good temperament considering how scared she would have been.
Two days later, Elsa gave birth to 7 healthy pups, 4 boys and 3 girls. A space for her had been secured with Dog’s Trust and Elsa and her puppies went to Dogs Trust in Liverpool on the 29th May.
Shaggy Dog Rescue Story Has a Happy Ending – Ribble Valley Borough Council
Dumped pregnant dog rescued from Ribble Valley fell has puppies – BBC News
