Volunteers find show dog that escaped from crash near Chehalis
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CHEHALIS, Wash. -- A show dog that escaped Tuesday after a crash that injured three near Chehalis has been found.
More than 14 hours after volunteers began searching for Steeler, they finally got reassurance he was OK.
"Oh, I just couldn't believe it," said volunteer Cathy Spears. "I'm thrilled to death."
Steeler escaped Tuesday after a crash on I-5. His owners were driving home from a dog show in California when their mobile home was struck by a semi-truck that was attempting to change lanes.
Patricia Rodgers was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was in serious condition. Her husband Donald was taken to Centralia Providence Hospital, but was released later on Tuesday. An 18-year-old assistant was also hurt.
Several dogs were inside the motor home during the crash. Most made it through the violent incident unharmed, but Steeler came up missing.
Volunteers worked through the night to find him but no luck, so they hired a search and rescue team.
Volunteers gave the team one of Steeler's blankets to pick up his scent, and once the search began, they found Steeler in 30 minutes.
Steeler was curled up in bushes along a set of railroad tracks, about two miles from the crash scene.
"About 15 minutes of us coaxing the dog, it came to us," Spears said.
Steeler was limping and had cuts but otherwise doing well. Volunteers called to let his owner know he was found.
"This dog is going to mean the world to his owner and will help her get better," Spears said.
Steeler will stay at the vet's office Wednesday night for monitoring.
More than 14 hours after volunteers began searching for Steeler, they finally got reassurance he was OK.
"Oh, I just couldn't believe it," said volunteer Cathy Spears. "I'm thrilled to death."
Steeler escaped Tuesday after a crash on I-5. His owners were driving home from a dog show in California when their mobile home was struck by a semi-truck that was attempting to change lanes.
Patricia Rodgers was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was in serious condition. Her husband Donald was taken to Centralia Providence Hospital, but was released later on Tuesday. An 18-year-old assistant was also hurt.
Several dogs were inside the motor home during the crash. Most made it through the violent incident unharmed, but Steeler came up missing.
Volunteers worked through the night to find him but no luck, so they hired a search and rescue team.
Volunteers gave the team one of Steeler's blankets to pick up his scent, and once the search began, they found Steeler in 30 minutes.
Steeler was curled up in bushes along a set of railroad tracks, about two miles from the crash scene.
"About 15 minutes of us coaxing the dog, it came to us," Spears said.
Steeler was limping and had cuts but otherwise doing well. Volunteers called to let his owner know he was found.
"This dog is going to mean the world to his owner and will help her get better," Spears said.
Steeler will stay at the vet's office Wednesday night for monitoring.
Happy that Donald and Pat can rest easier knowing Steeler was found. They are great people who taught me much about handling show dogs. They handled our beloved bloodhound Kira , helping her to finish with three majors and going on to special. Kira loved being shown by Donald and Shay Skinner.
meanwhile people like those at the HSUS and other animal rights groups would like to see search and rescue dogs stopped from reproducing.. and would like to see dogs stopped being used as "slaves'.. thanks DOG these dogs were ready willing and able to help find this dog..now let's hope the people are ok!
An equally HUGE THANKS goes out to other volunteers. Â Wonderful to see us all pull together!
The local professional handler that left work to help. Â He is taking care of all the dogs at his place.
The local vet who came and checked out all the dogs before they ever left the crash scene.
And our best wishes to Pat. Â Was told she has several surgeries ahead of her.
Yay! Good job volunteers and S&R!
Whew! Great job and a great ending!Â
Yay !!! Thanks Search and Rescue !
This makes my heart sing for this dog and his owners. I hope they all make a full recovery, let's make this the perfect ending to a horrible event.
What Search and Resue team was hired? Can we donate to them ?Â
@Maynard G Krebbs
Volunteers find show dog@Rockberry @Maynard G Krebbs: Not quite so fast Rockberry. The story says that the volunteers hired a search and rescue team to help find the pooch. Unfortunately they did not say what the S&R team's name was.
Oh that's such great news!! I know that hearing he's okay, will help in their recovery. Â I am smiling at the darling border collie in the work vest. Â Too adorable.
Way to go S&R! Sending well wishes to the owners for a speedy recovery!!!
If you want a job done right, hire a dog.
Bless these volunteers. Â Poor dog must have been so scared. Â Thank goodness for happy endings!
Whoo hoo!!!!!! Good job people! I love when people come together to rescue one of our fuzzy ones!!
So glad to hear this! Had this posted on my FB page. Glad everyone is going to be ok.
Sensasional job you guys! Man, that sure didn't take long! Love this! :)
Happy ending! So glad the dog was found. Thank you to those that helped in the rescue.
Yipee! I got a bit choked up. Such a sucker for a happy dog story. Now I hope the happiness will be the catalyst needed for this dog's owner to get well. Search and rescue fascinates me, they do some amazing stuff.
Great news! Kudos and thanks to the volunteers who found him. Let's hope his owners fare as well. Praying for their recovery.
Wonderful outcome! Everyone involved in finding this guy did a great job, he will be so happy to get back home.
Aw poor little buddy must be scared to death! I am so glad they found him!
@LeslieLouAnn so glad he didn't run into the freeway. Â