In August of 2022, Wilton Animal Rescue received a report of a dog living in a storm drain and was asked to help trap it. It turned out to be the most difficult rescue on record for WAR. The dog evaded all efforts to trap him over a 6 week period of time. It took a village of people showing up in force from all over the area…south Sacramento, Herald, Galt, and Wilton. It took WAR driving to the location 2-3 times daily begging, coaxing and praying for his safety. It took creativity and hard work from WAR and the volunteers trying different trapping options, building structures for the traps to combat the rising water, and trying different containment techniques to encourage the dog toward the traps.
Here is an account of Jim’s rescue.
Jim was discovered by local residents living in a storm drain. Concerned people had been trying to keep him fed and watered, but no one could get close to him. He was at risk, not only from starvation, but also because the area was contaminated with rat and human feces, garbage and unstable water levels.
Jim eating food left for him by concerned people
Jim emerging from the drain he had took refuge in
Hanging out amid garbage, dead birds and feces
Brush and garbage. The smell was overwhelming
Jim peaking out of his drain pipe
Evidence of rats was everywhere
When WAR arrived, we placed what turned out to be the first of a series of traps. Jim sniffed around but it was a hard no on getting in the trap.
Jim sniffing the trap
Jim giving the trap a hard no
Next we placed a Missy Trap. The cats loved it, but again, it was no go for Jim.
Next attempt – Missy Trap
Love from the cats, but no Jim
While trying different traps, we also tried to encourage him to stay in close proximity to the traps by containing him is a section of the canal and feeding him bones to encourage him to stay.
We left bones for Jim in his drain pipe
Set up panels to contain him
Our next attempt to trap him…no where to go but in the trap.
Jim peaking at us from within the safety of his drain pipe
Leon built a platform to set the trap on by Jim’s drain pipe
A tunnel was made with a smaller trap drain pipe to the larger trap
No where to go but in the trap…right?
One of the volunteers affectionally known as “Broom Man” He helped us guard the trap when we couldn’t be there
No where to go but in the trap, but somehow Jim managed to get in the trap, eat, then go back out without triggering the trap
And then the rain came….
Setting up tarps over the trap to protect Jim from the rain
We we weren’t expecting rising waters to cause the trap to actually float away!
We were forced to remove the containment panels due to the rising water
Jim had to escape the rising waters too, but he still refused to come close to us
Jim resting at the top of the embankment to escape the water
Jim watching and barking at us from afar
Jim sniffing around for sustenance on the bank next to the rising water
We tried a few more trap configurations to combat the wet weather and entice the elusive Jim
Trap configuration Number 4
Carol trying to build trust with Jim. Gradually he was getting closer and closer to the rescue crew, but was still not willing to go into the trap.
We finally decided to place the trap on the bank with shelter from the rain
New trap configuration with a tarp for shelter
Jim agrees that staying out of the rising water is good, trap is still not good though
But on the positive side…Jim was getting more and more trusting.
Finally…Jim decided that enough was enough and allowed us to touch him and feed him from our hand. He never did go into a trap, but we were able to put a leash on him and finally transport him to safety.
Jim finally allowing Carol to touch him
Jim finally eating a full meal
Happy Jim knowing he is finally safe
It turned out that Jim was the best dog…a real sweetheart. He went on from this to be adopted into a wonderful home along with another rescue dog. His new owner changed her life in order to make her home suitable for her two new dogs. Then she continued to share her dog’s stories with others in hopes that more people would adopt their pets instead of shopping.
Much more comfortable than a concrete drainage ditch
Hiding under the bed instead of in a drain pipe
More lounging than scrounging in his new home
Selfie with new pal photo-bombing in the back
Hanging with his new pal
Thank-you to the numerous people that helped us make this rescue possible. We could not have been happier with the outcome. This is one of WAR’s favorite success stories.