Fabulous rescue of a lost rescue dog story-LONG story inside

[flex]

Any train engineers or spouses of train personnel?  This story came from my neighborhood's website.  One of my neighbors and her daughter had posted a heart-breaking post that her rescued whippet had run away.  Luckily there was a happy ending, and Bart, the whippet, is home, safe and sound.  I thought it was cool that the Alaska Railroad staff was so helpful to her.  Makes you feel good, so I thought I'd post the rescue story.  flex

"Dear Nextdoor Family. I know I have saturated your pages, reaching out for help to find Bart, The Whippet. Thank you for supporting Brooke and I. I now feel I owe to share Bart's rescue story. ( get a tissue) (Please note I AM winded, I am a storyteller everyday, just want to share the highlights of his rescue. I will spare the emotions, endless hours of search, 300 posted flyers, a Community of eyes and a Community of Social Media on the look-out., many to include many calls from total strangers when sighted ❤️

Day 01: Jun 28,2016

Bart The Whippet, chose Brooke and I from the River Bend Boarding Kennels, (owner, Mary XXXX). Gorgeous hounds. Beautiful genetics. We were offered a 3 day Trial to see if Bart was comfortable and we were comfortable. Mary trusted us.

Within 3 hours of taking Bart to our home, he Ran, slipping out of his collar, (simply out of fear), the LEASH scared him.. We were in attempts of having him potty. He had only known a full backyard and a doggie door. It was 10 pm. The search began. Social Media lit UP!


Day 02: Jun 29,2016 Heavy rains, came and went, a full tank of gas, as I cruised all neighborhoods ,round and around... more posters hung in stores, post offices, taxi's, police, animal shelter etc. etc. though notta one sighting. I was referred to The Dog Detective, Cynthia XXXX. She had a list of to do's and not to do's. She is truly amazing. She loves what she does. It shows.


Day 03: Jun 30, 2016 The first sighting was called to us at 9:30 pm.

We immediately arrived at the site, he was in a distance, was skittish and scared beyond comprehension. It was raining. He was on huge rocks on the Ocean's mud flats in Westchester Lagoon, parallel to the railroad tracks, shivering. Our emotions over came us. We had to go home without him, though we quietly waited it out until 3:00 am.


Day 04 : June 01, 2016 I went to Animal Shelter, rented 2 large Dog Traps, per Cynthia, The Dog Detective. She and myself spent hours, staking out specific spots to place the traps in cognito in the bush, furnishing the traps with several foods and his own kennel blankey, then spraying liquid smoke on the trees. Outdoor cameras were set, and we were prepared to wait it out. tick tock tick tock...

The phone rang at 9:30pm, a frantic voice yells, "the whippet is on the railroad tracks heading to downtown!" (we actually almost live on the railroad tracks, the train passes at least 8 to 10 times daily, cargo and pax train.) We bolt out the door, he just happened to be within eyes sight of our home, ON THE TRACKS WITH THE TRAIN ON HIS HEELS. He was running directly ahead of the train. Brooke at that point near fell to the ground, she was inconsolable as she saw Bart, in front of the train. It was a horrific sight.The coastal trail was lined with people hanging over the chain link fence watching in horror. I was flailing my arms widely, screaming at the train and it was that moment I locked eyes with Chris the Train Engineer. He gives me a thumbs up, and yells, "we see him!" I was on the mud flats, (having hopping the chain link fence and Brooke on the Coastal Trail, we started marathon running, alongside the train, in full view of Bart ,directly in front of the train and still on the tracks. It was surreal. Terrifying. Then the train rounded the corner and was out of our sight. We were in between downtown and our home, no car, out of breath and completely emotional. It was a no brainer, we had to continue to run to the Train Depot, all the way. It was by the grace of God we were able to run that far, if Bart could do it, by gosh we must.. prolly 1 1/2 miles total. No we are not runners either, we were that moment though... <3

Now, The Rescue. Brooke was truly overcome, my heart ached as I saw my daughter wrenched in terror and hurt, that bothered me as much as seeing Bart outrunning the train... I went into flight or fight mode, and picked up a pace, I have never ran before...I was within a holler of the Depot, I bolted inside, found Security, and asked for an escort to get on the tracks where the incoming train was sitting.. a significant distance away. They obliged and I ran... As I approached The Conductor, Engineers, the entire staff was exiting the train.. This was all a restricted area. I asked the million dollar question, they replied that he was not HIT. He had veered off the tracks near the Anchorage Port. It was my time to cry, I lost it, I heaved sobs..... Brooke approaches, thinking the worse seeing me cry...


Now is where all hero's are worthy of the most honorable mention. The Alaskan Railroad should be more than proud and honored to have staff as caring and giving as that Crew! Names to follow soon....They all embraced Brooke and I, comforted our tears, then immediately set into action. Loaded us up into trucks and took us places on the opposite side of the tracks that was restricted to others. We all got out and foot searched. Then Chris, suggested a additional place to search,


......by the Anchorage Port, we saw him. A security Lady, whom I will find again and name her, was an angel from the Heavens, she had fried pork chops in her Camper recent to that time and Bart had been responsive, but not so much that he came too her. Her heart was so full of love, hugging us like we were family, see pic. of budiful blonde lady) ... It gave us such hope. In a secure roped off area, the lil furry angel, BART was shyly positioned behind a shed located right on a cliff that overlooked the WATER. Nooooo, please dear God, don't allow him to accidentally fall or run off the cliff...Brooke and I, on our knees and stomachs, in the gravel, slithered closer and closer to him with foods we had in our pockets. He almost would come, then turn back, almost, then turn back, for a good 30 minutes. The sun was high and bright, blinding the Railroad Crew and ourselves as we used every ounce of patience waiting this sniff and leave game.. Again the Alaska Railroad Crew, were directly behind us as a barrier and support. THEN, the pork chop lady, shared a freshly fried piece. The aroma was mouth watering, she handed it off to Chris. Brooke and Chris were faced off on their knees in a narrow roped area, attempting to corner lil Bart. IT worked folks, with the patience of both Brooke and Chris, Chris was able to allow Bart to come into his arms. TEARS, SHOUTS & APPLAUSE, of so many people adjacent the Anchorage Port. Chris kept him in his arms like a baby, Bart was very comfortable with Chris. The Railroad Crew loaded us up in Chris's truck and drove us home. Brooke held our furry baby in the back seat. Chris carried him into our home and sat and visited with us. The Railroad Crew left us with hugs and smiles.This was all at 11:30 pm!


There is a God, there are amazing hearts and souls in our Anchorage Community. We are forever in debt to so many. Our journey has just begun.


To the end an already story from the Heavens, Mary XXXX, (River Bend Boarding Kennel) whom is able to easily accept the lowest value of $800 to monies well above, for her breed of show dogs, GAVE Bart to us! Yes my Anchorage Community, Mary gifted us Bart. The kindest gift of love to Brooke and I, that we have received in our entire lives. I have no words that could express our gratitude. Thank you friends and Community. We are now united and connected forever and always an act of goodness and pure love.


Love, Monica"

[pandangie]

Wow, that is quite the story! Glad there was a happy ending