Earlier this month in Kennewick, Washington, a man named Jim Tietsort stumbled upon three abandoned dogs living in a large pipe, which they had turned into a makeshift shelter. Unable to catch them himself, Tietsort shared a photo on Facebook, hoping the local community would step in to help.
Nikki Surgeon, a resident of the area, saw the post and decided to visit the location where the dogs had been found. Although she couldn’t locate them on her first attempt, she refused to give up.
“It’s awful for someone to abandon dogs with no shelter, especially in 98-degree heat,” Surgeon told The Dodo.
The following day, she returned and finally spotted the pups but still couldn’t catch them. Teaming up with another kind-hearted person, Sandy Orton, they began visiting the dogs three times a day, gradually building trust.
“We were determined,” Surgeon said. “We weren’t going to leave them behind. We were going to rescue them no matter what.”
Over the next two days, Surgeon, Orton, and other community members successfully managed to catch two of the dogs. However, the female dog remained the most fearful and elusive.
At last, on the fifth day, with bated breath, Surgeon and Orton carefully slipped a collar over the female dog’s head. After being cautious for so long, she quickly warmed up to them once she realized she was finally safe.
“All she needed was some reassurance,” Surgeon said.
All three dogs quickly received the medical care and love they had been desperately lacking. Surgeon, once again going the extra mile, welcomed them into her home.
She named the dogs Buddy, Baylee, and Blaze (though the shelter also referred to them as Canyon, Pebble, and Sierra). Despite the tough conditions they were rescued from, the trio has blossomed into playful, intelligent, and affectionate companions.
The shelter is now urgently searching for someone willing to foster or adopt them long-term. If you’re in the area and interested, you can apply through Mikey’s Chance Canine Rescue.
