With a Little Help From a Humboldt Man, Wounded Dog Gets Home to Family

Untitled

Don Shepherd reunited with, Charlie, the dog he saved.

When a small dog is struck by a large truck on a busy road, what do you do?

When Fortuna man, Don Shepherd, was faced with dilemma recently, he didn’t hesitate. He jumped out of his car and got the dog to safety. Later, he helped track down the owner and reunite the wounded pet with his worried owner.

Several weeks ago, Don and his wife Sherry were in Napa. To their horror they saw a small brown and white dog run out into the highway where a large truck hit it. “I acted without even thinking and stopped to pull the dog out of the road and to safety,” Shepherd said. “The dog ran into the side of the tire and took out three teeth. [It] knocked him out. That’s when I darted in and snatched him up before the hundreds of other cars ( literally) hit him.”

The small canine was badly injured. “It was heartbreaking,” said Shepherd. “We comforted Charlie and I massaged his legs… As soon as I felt him snap out of it, I put him into [another witness’s] car and she took him to a local vet.”

But Shepherd wasn’t ready to leave responsibility for the dog. He began tracking down the owner. “There is a kennel on that road that I called to find out who had a dog like that in the area,” Shepherd said. He was told that three families in the area had the same breed of dog (a King Charles Cavalier.)

Shepherd then called the vet where the dog had been taken for surgery. “They said he had a chip and his name was Charlie,” Shepherd said. “Bam! I called the kennel back and she put me in touch with David the owner of the dog.”

The owner and Charlie were reunited and Charlie began healing.

Just recently Don and his wife got to meet both Charlie and his owner. Charlie’s owner flew to Fortuna and gave the couple a tour in his small plane.

The little dog is happy and healthy thanks to a man who rushed into traffic to save him.

92f6eb5a-d91c-44b1-bb4b-1e480b601acc

Charlie and his companion looking out of their owner’s plane. [Photo provided by Don Shepherd.]

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tom L
Guest
Tom L
7 years ago

Way to go Shep! Kudos!

G-ma
Guest
G-ma
7 years ago

Ok now that I’ve had my cry,Bless your wonderful heart!!thanks DON you rock

Hick
Guest
Hick
7 years ago

Dogs are the Best!

Eastside
Guest
Eastside
7 years ago

Love the everyday hero !!

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
7 years ago

I like most dogs better than I like most people, so this is a great story for me. Having a dog running loose in traffic is a genuine horror story. It’s great that someone cared enough to save the dogs life. It was nice of the dogs owner to be so grateful as to fly up here and thank Don.

Anybody who has a dog should have it ‘chipped’, it is only sure way to connect it to it’s owner. Dogs have a tendency to be free spirits so they will go on a lark if they find a way, usually to the great distress of their masters.

veteransfriend
Guest
veteransfriend
7 years ago

And PLEASE do your very best to keep your beloved dogs SAFE

gazoo
Guest
gazoo
7 years ago

so…i guess you earthlings can restore Humanity.
great article!

Tulip Torpedo
Guest
Tulip Torpedo
7 years ago

Twins! Love it. Putting the bow in the bow wow wow! spelling check may be needed!