A stray dog that eluded capture for over a week in Timmins, Ontario, was finally rescued by a group of dedicated volunteers.
The saga began on March 6 when Shawn Ouimette saw a post on Facebook about the dog and shared it, calling for help in tracking the pup down.
“We didn’t know where he was. There was no plan,” said Ouimette, who is the owner of four rescue dogs. “He was pretty fast. There was no catching him on foot. There was no way.”
Over the next week, people across Timmins posted sightings of the stray, which led to the dog being nicknamed “the 655 dog.” The dog was spotted in various locations, from Schumacher to the highway leading out of the city to the north, making it difficult to predict his next move.
On Wednesday, Ouimette received a report that the dog had been spotted in the city’s north end on a snowmobile trail. With determination, he jumped on his sled and went to search for the dog.
“I ended up running into him on the trail,” Ouimette said. “I started feeding him a bit. He came closer and closer.”
After some persistence, Ouimette managed to guide the dog into deep snow to slow him down. “I just jumped off my sled right in front of him and started throwing broken bacon treats at him,” Ouimette recalled. “He bit me a couple of times out of fear. I wrestled him for a good three or four minutes. I was exhausted. It was quite the experience.”
Despite the dog’s frantic flight, Ouimette was successful in capturing him. Although it remains unclear where the dog came from, his name, or whether he has an owner, the pup has since been examined by a veterinarian and is now staying in a foster home.
Ouimette has received over 100 messages from concerned residents asking about the dog’s condition. While he appreciates the support, Ouimette emphasized that his actions were motivated by his love for dogs, not for publicity. “It feels good. I’m just a dog lover,” he said.
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