In mid September Ian and I and another couple headed to a cabin up north with the dogs for a weekend of R and R. Wanting to get a head start, Ian and I arrived late Friday afternoon; our friends, Karen and Alan, joined us on the Saturday morning.When they arrived our plans were to have breakfast at the diner in the nearby town. Nothing beats a home-made country kitchen breakfast! As we pulled out of the side road to make the turn onto the highway, Karen saw what she thought was a pair of ears sticking out from the bushy area near the stop sign. Ian slowly backed the car up and we all strained to have a look. To our shock and astonishment we saw a large black dog lying half hidden in the shady bush. My first thought was that he had been hit by a car. I rolled down the window to have a closer look which frightened him. As he turned to move deeper into the bush I saw his muzzle was covered with porcupine quills.
Breakfast could wait. We spent the next several hours driving up and down county side roads knocking on doors and canvassing the local merchants in town. No one seemed to know anything about the dog. One couple told us they were sure he was the dog who ransacked their garbage the night before and a local farmer told us he had seen the dog running up and down the highway for the last three days, but did not know whose dog he was. Feeling defeated and frustrated we stopped for something to eat at a nearby restaurant. When the waitress came to take our order, I told her about the dog. She said that one of her co-workers, ‘Lorna’, was a real dog lover and knew all the dogs for miles around; she was quite certain she could help.
When Lorna came to our table I described the dog and the location to her. She looked thoughtful and then shook her head and told us she had no idea whose dog he could be. As we ate our lunch we tried to come up with a plan. At this stage of the game, we had been gone for hours; maybe he wasn’t even there anymore. My mind set, I excused myself and went to the kitchen area of the restaurant to find Lorna. I asked her if there was any meat I could have. Moments later she arrived at our table with a warm foil package.
On the drive back, I could feel my heart racing and the anxiety building because I knew what was ahead. How was I going to get this dog? My biggest fear was that he would run onto the highway, I was going to have to play my cards just right. What alternative was there though? With the information we had gathered and pieced together, he had been there for at least three days and it seemed that no one was looking for him. As we made the left turn onto the side road all eyes were on the area where we last saw him. As the car tires hit the gravel, we saw his majestic head appear. In a split second I saw the anticipation and disappointment in his eyes. He was waiting for someone to come back for him!
We drove past him and back to the cabin. Fifteen minutes later I was back with the roast beef and a leash in hand. I positioned my car on an angle in an effort to block the highway from his view, so that if he bolted, it would hopefully, be in the other direction – toward the bush or the side road. I slowly got out of my car and turned my back to him and began rattling the foil paper. I turned sideways and could see from the corner of my eye that he had moved slightly backwards. I took a step away from him and sat down. Still having a peripheral view of him, I could see that he was becoming interested in what I was rattling. I tossed a piece of roast beef within easy reach and I could see him take it and gobble it down.
I continued to toss small pieces in his direction and began to speak quietly to him. Itried to get him to come towards me by throwing the meat a little closer to me every other time. He was extremely cautious but eventually came in somewhat closer and lay down. What I didn’t expect was someone to drive down the side road just as we were making progress. And to make things even more complicated, the car stopped right in front of us! “That your dog?” said the voice behind the wheel. I watched as the big dog retreated to his original spot. I looked up and saw a middle-aged man looking rather annoyed. “No, he’s not my dog; I was trying to befriend him. I heard he has been here for a few days. He has been quilled by a porcupine. Do you know whose dog he is?” I questioned. The man’s face softened as he shook his head. He said he had been wondering the very same thing. He wished me luck, told me to be careful and drove off.
“I guess we will have to start all over big boy” I said as I looked into a pair of amber eyes that were now looking back at me. I began tossing the roast beef again and sooner than I had expected he was actually within an arm’s length. One problem – I was running out of meat! I didn’t want to blow things now, but had limited resources. On a wing and a pray I held my arm out with the food lying on my open flat palm. Unbelievably, he slowly came forward, looked at me for what seemed like an eternity, and ever so gently took the meat from my hand. It was in that moment an unspoken trust formed between us. I left my hand extended and gently stroked under his chin with my fingers. He didn’t move back, but rather he seemed to extend his massive head to invite my caress. “You are one handsome dude” I told him. His head cocked to one side as if to listen and then he lay down only inches from my side. I had three small nuggets of roast beef left and it was now or never. Still clutching the leash in my hand, I slowly reached over with my other hand and began massaging his back near the base of his tail and I could see he was enjoying it. I dropped another piece of meat between his paws and then continued to massage his back. As his head came up I gently dropped the looped leash over it and let it lay loose around his neck. I gave him another piece of meat and slowly pulled the leash a little tighter. I did not want to make any sudden or frightening movements so I gave my legs a bit of a stretch before I slowly stood up. As soon as I was on my feet, he was on his. He looked over at me this time without suspicion or fear but with anticipation. He did not know where we were going, or what we were doing, but one thing he did know is that we were now attached via the leash and to my surprise, it did not seem to bother him. He walked calmly and trustingly by my side towards the car. I kept thinking to myself “how in heavens am I going to get this big bruiser into my car without causing him stress or conflict”. As I opened the car door, to my utter shock (and delight!) he jumped right in and sat down.
As we drove down the country road, I wondered what his story was. More importantly, what was his story going to be? We were leaving the next day to come home to Toronto. Now that plan ‘A’ was complete what was plan ‘B’?
Back at the cabin, Ian, Karen and Alan were anxiously waiting. As I pulled in, I could see their eyes shift to the back seat, where the big dog sat looking out the window. Ian came over to my side of the car and suggested we house him in the barn that was somewhat functional but had not been used for several years. I asked him if he could go to the barn and see if there was a suitable area to keep the dog and that I would follow in a few moments. I reached back to take hold of the leash before opening the door and saw my new friend looking at me with those striking amber eyes. I could see the porcupine quills more clearly now and wished I could do something then and there to relieve him of the discomfort they must be causing him. “Don’t worry; we will take care of you. I know this is scary and confusing but you will never have to go through this again” I promised.
I could see Ian by the barn waving to let me know he was ready. I held the leash tightly, opened the door and got out of the car. The big dog followed suit and walked in stride.
Inside the barn, Ian had the stall ready with a blanket laid out and large pail of fresh water. I walked into the stall, removed the leash and stroked his massive head gently. He was in a terrible state. Aside from the quills, his coat was dull and matted and he had burrs and sticks scattered throughout it. His left ear looked red and irritated and he was extremely thin. “We’ll be back soon with something for that empty stomach of yours” I told him.
Back in the cabin, we had a round table discussion about what we should do. As I boiled some rice, I remembered that there were two rescue ladies in the area. I called both numbers and left messages. I called animal control for the area and also put a call into the local veterinarian who was on call that weekend.
I took the plate of food to the barn and fumbled with the stall latch. I put the food down and watched with interest as the big fellow gobbled it down feverishly. He looked up as if to say “please ma’am can I have some more?” I smiled at him and assured him there was more to come, but I did not want to feed him too much at once. I noticed that somehow he had managed to remove a few of the quills from his muzzle but was not sure if the tips were still embedded. As I turned to leave, he stepped forward to follow, but I told him he would have to stay there for now, I would be back soon.
Over the course of the next 12 hours, I talked to a number of helpful folks about the dog we had decided to name “Kodiak”. Unfortunately, no one knew who he was, where he had come from or who he belonged to. It was becoming more and more apparent that this boy had been abandoned. The local veterinarian said he could remove the quills but not until Monday and that I would be asked to take him home after that. Home, where was home? Although neither could physically take him in,both rescue ladies were extremely helpful and offered to make posters and get the word out about him. It was becoming fairly clear that Kodiak was going to be coming home with us. I thanked them and let them know I would send digital pictures once we arrived home.
Thank goodness, Ian and I had brought separate vehicles. The next day we loaded our three dogs, plus Gizmo a rescue dog into my car. I had found an old crate in the barn which we set up in Ian’s van. I brought Kodiak out from the barn to attend to business before the trip home. I have to admit I was a bit anxious about getting him into the crate but again he complied without missing a beat, hopped in and lay down. I popped a few biscuits into his crate and told him what a good boy he was. He looked at me so knowingly that a chill ran through me. He knew. He knew that we were trying to help him the only way we could and the look in his eyes said as much.
Once we were back in Toronto, a digital picture, description and location of where Kodiak had been found was circulated far and wide. He was vetted and the porcupine quills removed. No one ever contacted us with regards to his whereabouts.
After holding him for a seven day period, I put his story and picture on our Petfinder site and e-mailed his plight to friends and rescue colleagues. His overall health and well-being had improved with each new day. His coat was now free of burrs and mats, and had a shiny luster. His eyes no longer held suspicion but rather an impish twinkle. His once emaciated frame now felt thick and firm. Slinking and cowering and been tossed to the wayside and replaced with happy play bows, zig-zag catch-me-if you-can’ side steps and full out running like the wind.
About a week after I put Kodiak’s profile on Petfinder (and had numerous inquiries), I received an e-mail that began like this:
"I lost my best friend last Saturday. His name was Buddy and he and I shared the last 11 years together. Tragically, after a complication with a degenerative disorder, two veterinarians recommended he be put to rest. My daughter and I held my Buddy while he quietly and peacefully passed over.
I am lost without a dog and would very much like to know more about Kodiak, the
dog you found by the side of the highway”.
Kodiak Duncan now resides in Uxbridge, Ontario with adopted father, Scott.
Kodiak reports in often to let me know he enjoys his three country trail walks a day, going to work with dad and waking dad up each morning to alert him to the squirrels that have a master plan to take over the yard (maybe even the world!).
