Stray Dog With Cord Embedded In His Waist Gets 2nd Chance

Want to Adopt Homer? Here’s his adoption application.

After months of living on the streets, Camp Golden Years, a dog rescue in Tehachapi CA was able to catch this scared dog and get him into a safe environment. 

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

It was apparent that Homer had little interaction with humans and what he had experienced was likely very negative. We can only imagine that Homer had been tethered up for an excessive amount of time until he finally escaped with the tether wrapped around his waist. (Tethering is actually illegal in many states)

Unfortunately Homer was not in any condition to be re-homed because he was a feral dog. After dogs are on their own for a few months they can go feral which essentially means they turn back into a wild animal. That natural instinct that happens in a dog to allow them to survive is challenging on them mentally.

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 he was dealing with physical pain as well. He needed immediate surgery to remove the tether that was embedded into his skin, which would be followed by a long road to emotional and physical recovery. What he needed was the support of a loving and patient foster family who could see him through this process.

That’s where I come in. I’m Rocky Kanaka and I spend most of my time raising awareness about shelter dogs, rescue dogs, homeless dogs really any animal that needs to be rescued. I focus on showing others how to foster a dog, how to rescue a dog, and why it can make such an impact.  So when Joel Rockey from Camp Golden Years gave me a call and told me all about Homer, I asked if I could come meet him and to see if I could help.

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Homer Finds Foster Family

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.
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Homer’s DNA Test Results

We got Homer a DNA test and learned that he was over a quarter Australian Cattle Dog…. this gave me an idea. This breed of dog is a herding dog, so I found a local sheep herding facility and took him there  to see how he would respond. And while he’s not going to win any sheep herding contests, he definitely felt in his element and made an effort.

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homer was victim to dog tethering. Rocky Kanaka fosters him

Surprisingly, the very next day Homer wagged his tail for the very first time in 47 days. Homer was jumping and playing and was finally happy just being a dog. He is sweet and gentle and playful and is looking forward to the rest of his life.

Homer’s Almost Ready to Find His Forever Home

While he might be ready for adoption right now, I’m going to let his hair grow back (they had to shave his bottom half for surgery) so that potential forever families can see Homer for who he really is and not get caught up in his past. Whoever adopts Homer is going to be very very .lucky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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