Stray Dog Found with Embedded Cord Undergoes Surgery and Finds a Forever Home

 After months of surviving on the streets, a terrified dog named Homer was finally rescued by Camp Golden Years, a dog rescue in Tehachapi, California. For Homer, this marked the beginning of a life-changing journey.

Rescuers quickly realized Homer had little experience with humans, and what interactions he had endured were likely traumatic. When he was found, a tether was painfully wrapped around his waist—a grim reminder of his past. Many states have outlawed tethering, but Homer had likely been tied up for an extended period before breaking free. Tragically, the cord had become embedded in his skin, causing significant pain and requiring immediate surgery.

Homer was wondering the streets for months with a tether embedded in his waist. Dog tethering is illegal in many states.

A Dog Turned Feral

By the time Homer was rescued, he had been on his own long enough to become feral—a state where domestic instincts give way to survival-driven behaviors. While this adaptation helps dogs endure life in the wild, it takes a heavy toll on their mental health. Homer was unfit for adoption and needed both medical care and a patient, understanding foster family to guide his recovery.

Immediate Need Of Surgery To Remove Dog Tether

Homer was likely tethered and escaped, and the tight tether grew into his body. Dog tethering is illegal in many states

Homer’s DNA Test

In the weeks following his surgery, we let Homer set the pace. Every interaction was on his terms. Slowly but surely, he began to trust us. Quiet days turned into small victories, and one particularly exciting discovery came after we received the results of Homer’s DNA test.

It turned out Homer was over a quarter Australian Cattle Dog, a herding breed known for its intelligence and energy. Inspired, I brought Homer to a local sheep herding facility to see how he would react. While he wasn’t a natural herder, the experience seemed to spark something within him.

We decide to Foster Homer

When I first met Homer he was shy, hesitant and reserved… but he wasn’t aggressive. I saw curiosity in his eyes, and a desire to ‘make friends’ so we decided as a famly that we would bring Homer into our home, and we gently got him into the car to begin the long journey ahead.

He didn’t know how to walk up stairs

The first few days were tough. Homer wasn’t used to being around people or living in a house. He didn’t even know how to walk up a couple of stairs. (Believe it or not walking up stairs isn’t natural for dogs… stairs are a human invention and not seen in the wild.) But we were patient and our dogs helped teach Homer how to be a dog.

Then came the surgery. The surgery was long but Homer was a champ. He was finally free of the cord around his waist that was holding him hostage from living his life. The pain was over, and he would be able to start growing and living and being a dog.

For the next month we let Homer observe and interact only when he wanted to, everything was on his terms. Little by little.  Quiet days. 

Rockay kanaka, a pet rescue advocate, decided to foster Homer, during his surgery to remove the dog tether from around his waist.



A Tail Wagging Transformation

The very next day, Homer wagged his tail for the first time—47 days after his rescue. From that moment on, he began to thrive. He played, jumped, and embraced life as a happy, gentle dog.

 

homer was victim to dog tethering. Rocky Kanaka fosters him

Finding Forever

After months of care and networking, Homer was ready for his forever home. In a heartwarming twist, we found the perfect match with one of my relatives. Homer’s story came full circle—he had not only survived but found a loving family to call his own.

(originally published in 2019)

 

Watch Homer Play In the Ocean