"Lucky" gets a second chance

SEELEY LAKE – Thursday, Aug. 25 was just another day for Missoula County Road Department employee Shawn Wendel. However when he heard whining at the Fawn Creek gravel pit, he found a dog that was tied to a tree and left for dead. Animal Control has been notified and the investigation is ongoing.

"I just did what any decent human would do," Shawn said.

When Shawn pulled into the Fawn Creek pit Thursday morning he saw a dog lying back behind the large gravel pile. He said he did not think anything of it. However, when he returned, he heard whimpering.

"I knew something was wrong," Shawn said. He approached the area where he saw the dog earlier.

Behind the large pile of gravel, the dog was laying in the brush with a rope wrapped around a bunch of deadfall and brush. The other end of the rope was tied to the tree higher than Shawn's head.

"There was no way you would see that dog unless you were on the back side of that pile," Shawn said.

Around her nose was a piece of rope tied so tight it put a gash in her nose.

"It is one thing to get rid of a dog but to tie them up like that and tie their mouth completely shut, I mean tight, she wouldn't have had a chance to defend herself, she would not have had a chance to chew herself free or bark," Shawn said.

Shawn slowly cut the rope off her muzzle just enough to loosen it up and slide it off.

"She had enough energy to attack me," Shawn said. "She was ecstatic."

She inhaled half a sandwich and a string cheese. While she had a red collar, he never found a tag.

"She'd been there long enough that she did not want to drink water," Shawn said.

Since he was still on shift, Shawn called his daughter Trista who came and took the dog home. Trista fed her and got her to start drinking water.

"I didn't turn it in to law enforcement," Shawn said. "My only concern was getting the dog free and keeping her safe."

When he returned home, Shawn searched the Seeley Lake Community social media for posts of a lost dog that matched her description. He found none.

When his wife Sharon returned home from her job in Missoula, she gave her a bath and got her all cleaned up.

"Someone at some time had done something with her," Sharon said. "She is a good girl. She slept on her bed, she had no accidents in the house, she did not chew anything in the house, she played with [our dog] Willow."

"She sits, shakes hands, she will stay if you tell her," Shawn said. "Super friendly dog."

While Trista thought about naming her "Fawn" because she was found on Fawn Creek Road, Sharon said everyone kept saying she was lucky, "So that was it, she is Lucky."

Aug. 26 Sharon shared on social media, "I am looking for a family that would like a really sweet dog." While Sharon said there were several people that would have provided her with a good home, Seeley Lake resident Troy Spence was the first to meet the dog Aug. 27.

Spence has just had to put down his 15-year-old heeler. He loves dogs and usually has four of five rescue dogs. They both just loved each other.

Spence said Shawn told him, "I know she is going to a good home, take her."

Troy kept her name Lucky. The vet told him she is about a year and a half and is part Airedale, part terrier with some German shepherd in her. He got her shots all updated and will get her spayed soon.

"She won't leave your side," Troy said.

Troy reported the incident to law enforcement. Animal Control is now investigating and he will keep the dog.

"No one knows why someone would do this," Troy said. "To do what they did is animal cruelty. There are adoption programs out there, they could have put her on Facebook or just opened their door up and let her go."

If you have any information on this incident, please call Missoula County Animal Control at 406-541-7387.