Two guys were traveling along the Trans Canada Highway after a snowfall in early February when they observed a black splotch on the freshly fallen snow. They noticed the place was shifting as they drove by.
A creature looked to be trapped in a snow-covered ditch, attempting — but failing — to extricate herself.
The men pulled over for a better look and realized that the mystery animal was a dog.
The snow was too deep for the men to reach the dog on their own, so they called Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue for help. Michelle Neufeld and two other members of the rescue’s staff rushed to the scene and began fighting their way through the ice to reach the frightened dog.
“We were up to our knees in snow, so getting to her was tough and incredibly cold, but we made it.” There was also a lot of vegetation and plants in the road,” said Neufeld, the rescue’s president, to The Dodo. “When we arrived, we noticed she was in bad state, with mats covering her entire body.” She’d been in the region for a long, and she’d tried to build a bed by digging holes.”
The large dog was too weak to walk, and the snow was too deep to carry her. After some quick thinking, members of the rescue team loaded the dog onto a tarp and pulled her to safety.
After being stranded in the snow for days, the dog was relieved to get in a heated automobile and sat down on the passenger seat to relax.
Neufeld took the dog to the veterinarian’s office, where an examination indicated that the puppy had a temperature and was dehydrated. The dog’s fever was brought down by an overnight stay at the hospital and IV fluids.
When the dog, now named Riley, began to feel better, her caregivers started to work on removing her matted, thick coat. Riley started to smile and even play after a much-needed shave.
Riley’s rescuers realized she needed a secure environment to recover from her tragedy. Riley was placed with a foster family when no one claimed her. They instantly fell in love with her.
Riley is still nervous around new people and when she goes outside, but she is eager to show her foster parents how loving she can be. She’s adjusting well to her new life in a house and enjoys being a member of a pack with two new dog siblings and a cat.
Riley’s foster father told The Dodo, “She is quite curious.” “She also wants to be with us at all times. Considering all she’s been through, [she’s] fairly content.”
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