Being a lifeguard and leading rescue missions is a very stressful job that requires a lot of patience and even creativity.
Many animals have trust issues and are unaware that rescuers are actually trying to help them. For this reason, animals go into a very defensive mode and try to protect themselves from what they consider harmful.
The rescuer’s job is then to find the best possible way to capture the animal without causing harm to those involved.
One such rescue took place in Kern County, California, when a puppy simply refused to be rescued.
Rescue mission
When a rescuer named Danny from Safefurr Place Animal Rescue, a nonprofit rescue organization based in Kern County, California, came across a very malnourished stray dog in need of help, he immediately decided to help. ‘help.
The puppy named Weston was very nice, calm and gentle. As soon as he saw that Danny had treats, the hungry puppy approached him as if he had known him forever.
“He did everything you would want a stray dog to do. He was me, he saw I had treats, he came right up to me. He was eating out of my hand. I was able to pet him. I am thinking ‘Oh, man. He is going to be a piece of cake!’” Danny told The Dodo
However, Danny would soon realize that this wouldn’t be as easy of a rescue as he had thought. As soon as Weston saw a leash, he immediately got frightened, forcing him to run away..
But, Danny wasn’t about to give up that easily. He tried again the very next day with a different strategy.
“I was thinking, ‘If I just cover his eyes for a few seconds at a time that could give me the chance to put the leash around his neck without him seeing. It took a little bit of time, but eventually, he was just where he needed to be,” said Danny.
As he slid the leash around his neck, Danny felt relieved. But then, things took a very unfortunate turn.
Weston got really startled and started pulling on the leash in an attempt to break free. After some tugging, the leash got out of Danny’s hand and Weston ran away.
“I was devastated. I was really, really worried,” he added.
Even when Danny managed to find him, Weston just didn’t trust him anymore. Danny had to call for backup.
When a woman named Sheila arrived and approached the frightened puppy, Weston immediately gave in, allowing rescuers to keep him at bay.
Learning from his mistakes, this time Danny brought over a crate and gently patted the puppy’s back to let him know he could jump in it.
Weston was finally safe.
New life
Even when Weston arrived at the shelter, he was still terrified of the leash and became very defensive when he saw it.
That’s why Sheila and the staff decided to proceed very calmly. Every time they took him for a walk, they put the leash over his head, but let him maintain control and lead the way.
The staff also decided to take another dog, Ginger, for a walk alongside Weston, hoping he would look at her and see that she was okay.
After a while, Weston finally realized that the leash wasn’t bad at all, and that he even got excited at dinner when he saw it, knowing it was time for a walk. Once he won the belt, Weston completely came out of his shell and even started doing zoomies every chance he got.
“It was at that moment when I knew that he was going to be OK,” said Sheila.
He was so much more than just okay. In no time, this once frightened pup was able to find a family who would love and adore him, just like he deserved all along.
Forever Home
„We got his early December, he definitely made our holiday way more adventurous and fun. Weston, now Westly, did not have a lot of self-confidence when we first got him and so, we worked really hard to create that bond,“ said Michaela, Westly’s new mom.
Apart from having a loving family, Westly also has a furry sibling named Izzy, with whom he clicked instantly.
Westly is finally living a life that he deserves, full of fun playdates, long walks, and love. He no longer has to fight for scraps in order to survive, as he has a loving mom who tends to his every need.
