Last Updated on May 15, 2023 by Pets Feed
Seneca Krueger, psychotherapist, welcomed Zelda, an anxious and nervous dog, a year ago. The woman has dedicated herself to receiving rescued dogs and helping them regain their faith in humans so they can later find forever families. What Seneca never imagined was the journey little Zelda would take to get back to his side.
So far, the woman has taken care of around 30 dogs, but Zelda was a bit of a tough case.
Seneca told The Dodo:
“She came with anxiolytics, Zelda was pacing. All day she walked or hid. »
A dog travels 40 miles to return home
During the process of helping Zelda’s self-confidence, the woman noticed that the dog felt safer when she was on a leash, so gradually she felt calmer and safer.
Seneca added:
“When I was at home, she was attached to me. During two weeks of leash training, I had also weaned her off her anti-anxiety medication, and the pace slowed. She was even willing to come out of hiding alone for brief periods. »
After two months with Seneca, her family and two other dogs, the dog finally wagged her tail, after 4 months she started playing and barking, although sometimes she could be startled by strange noises or visitors who were passing, but then, The woman knew they had made a breakthrough and it was time to let her go.
Seneca said:
“As Zelda started to gain a bit more confidence, I decided it was time for her to find a forever home, that’s what you’re supposed to do as a foster family, help them adapt, then say goodbye to them with joy as they move on and live their best lives. »
Seneca drove her car 40 miles to take Zelda to her new home, but she didn’t imagine it would be a difficult task.
She commented:
“I had to pull over on the side of the road because I couldn’t see through my tears, for the first time in 12 years of fostering dogs I felt like I was giving away my dog. »
After 10 days of leaving Zelda in her new home, she received terrible news, the dog disappeared after her leash slipped. Seneca took his car and went looking for him.
The team of volunteer search dogs called START (Search, Trace and Recovery Team) joined in the search for Zelda. They installed cameras and power stations in the area, and gradually images of Zelda appeared.
Even when the temperatures were low, the woman kept searching.
Seneca said:
“The coldest days are the ones I spent the most time researching as I desperately sought to warm and protect Zelda. [I] spent hours in the freezing cold, following dog tracks through ravines, swamps and frozen fields. »
About two months passed when Seneca received reports that Zelda had been seen in Minneapolis, halfway between her house and the house where the dog had been taken. At that moment, Seneca realized that the little girl was trying to come back to her.
The adopters decided to stop adopting Zelda with Wags and Whiskers Animal Rescue, the organization that arranged the dog’s adoption. Seneca was happy to find it on paper at least, and now more than ever she would stop looking for it.
The woman said:
“She was mine again, and I was more determined than ever to find her. »
Two weeks later the woman heard from Zelda, it seems they saw her near her house but it was amazing to think that a dog had traveled so many miles, she immediately organized posts restoration and left clothes in the front yard with the idea that the scent would help the dog find his home. A couple told the woman about a nervous dog they had been feeding for a while.
Seneca added:
“Even though I really wanted this dog to be my Zelda, I knew that if there was a frightened and lost dog on the streets, we had to help it, even if it wasn’t the dog I knew, that I loved and who I missed very much. »
When the couple managed to catch the dog, they immediately contacted Seneca. She arrived at the scene and barely managed to recognize her, she looked scared and haggard from the time spent on the streets. When the START manager arrived and did a quick scan of the dog’s microchip, he confirmed it was Zelda.
Finally, after several months of wandering and a 40 miles trip, the little girl found her home.
Seneca said:
“It was a miracle, and what else to do in the face of a miracle? I sobbed, apologizing to Zelda for not recognizing her. I played it for the first time in 97 days. I assured her that she would return home forever and that I never stopped looking for her. »
Zelda is now happy and adjusting to life at home again.
Seneca says:
“She has become my velcro dog, and is never more than a few feet away from me at all times, my other dogs are also happy to find her and take great care of her. »
Now Zelda has her home and she will never leave again.
Seneca finished:
“I never could have imagined that all the time I was looking for Zelda, she was looking for me too, Zelda is officially my dog. But let’s be honest, it’s not like I had a choice. She is very persistent. »
There is no doubting the incredible love and loyalty that animals have for us, just like a dog travels miles to show us his love, each animal has their own way of telling us and showing us how much he loves us.
Images: Seneca Krueger
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