This week, residents of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, spotted a dog resembling a collie wandering around a local park. Cold and seemingly alone, the dog kept a distance from anyone who approached.
Concerned community members reached out to Janine Guido, the founder of Speranza Animal Rescue, a renowned organization committed to rescuing animals.
“She lingered in the spot, almost as if waiting for her family to return.” Unfortunately, despite Guido’s efforts, her family never appeared. Guido sought the community’s assistance in locating and rescuing the dog, with people reporting sightings to aid in the search.
Yet, gaining Carla’s trust proved challenging. “On my second visit, I managed to hand-feed her,” Guido shared. “But whenever I attempted to put a leash on her, she would shy away.”
Guido came close to earning Carla’s trust, only for the frightened dog to flee into the woods. Speranza Animal Rescue’s Facebook page played a crucial role in spreading the word about the dog patiently waiting for her family’s return.
“The park was quite crowded,” Guido mentioned. “She kept getting startled by all the people around her.” Eventually, she emerged from the woods, with others following her.
Despite two days of searching, there was no sign of Carla on Wednesday, causing concern. However, Thursday morning brought some relief when they received a call that Carla had been found sleeping under a porch at the back.
Guido’s adventure had just begun. “I almost caught her once, but she got scared again,” Guido explained. Carla ran away.
A few hours later, Guido started streaming on Speranza Animal Rescue’s Facebook page, leaving everyone curious about what would happen next. As the camera faced out from the driver’s side of the car and captured their journey down the road, Guido narrated his experiences and expressed horror over what had transpired in hours.
Another phone call came in, informing Guido that Carla had been spotted again. In a video, Guido excitedly exclaimed, “We found her! Your new life begins now. We appreciate you. We will keep you safe.”
Speaking to The Dodo, Guido shared how he gained the trust of this timid pup. “I managed to coax her onto a porch,” he said. “She couldn’t escape because the two other ladies had blocked both doorways. I secured her with a leash, and from that moment on, everything changed.”
Guido discovered that Carla was 10 years old, didn’t have a microchip, and was severely underweight by 15 to 20 pounds when he brought her to the clinic.
“We don’t know who she belongs to,” Guido explained. “There haven’t been any missing persons reports. Unfortunately, we suspect someone abandoned her, which explains why she was living in that area.”
Exhausted after spending days outdoors, Carla could barely keep her eyes open. Guido promptly arranged for Carla to stay in a peaceful home, ensuring her safety and allowing her to recuperate. Carla arrived on Thursday evening.
Once she has fully recovered, Carla will be made available for adoption. Guido expressed, “Carla is such a soul, although she appears frightened. However, as soon as I got her into my car, she seemed to sense that she was in a safe environment.”
