This is Duet....Rivers BFF!
Although so many people helped cared for and tried to help River. Daniele, and Duet were the two that were ultimately responsible for bringing River home, This is their story........
I usually walk all along the Rillito anywhere from Oracle to Sabino
Canyon. I had walked in this area of Columbus for about 12 years. I used
to walk my other dog Tosha before she passed away. I now have a dog
named Duet. Duet and I walk often in the area at different times of the
day (usually during the cooler weather months) usually on the path and
occasionally going into the wash area from the dirt road. The day I
first met River we cut through an area we usually didn't walk through
towards the wash to play in the running stream. On the way I was a bit
startled to see River jump up suddenly to see who were were. I am always
very cautious of stray or unsupervised dogs. I saw the contraption
nearby and thought it was a homeless persons camp. I felt bad for both
of them and decided to talk to her a moment before leaving. Then we went
on our way.
The next day I decided to go down there again and I saw River. I had
brought treats with me in case I saw her again. I decided to find out
about the contraption and discovered it was a trap to catch her. I was
relieved someone was trying to help her. I never saw her on the news and
I don't recall seeing any fliers about her specifically, but I see so
many. I may have and didn't remember. But I thought I would use the
treats to try to befriend her. Duet (always on a leash) and I always
approached her very slowly until she looked like she was about to leave
and then I would sit down immediately. Duet is usually very eager to
visit with dogs but she behaved differently this time( I think she
sensed River's nervousness). Duet had her back to River and was smelling
out the area as though River wasn't there. I threw some treats in
River's direction. She started getting more and more curious and came in
to meet Duet or at least smell her behind. She got close enough for me
to see that she had a collar on hidden in her coat. No tags though. She
took a treat from me and I didn't try to move suddenly or try to pet
her. I let her be in charge. She was very skittish and I knew better
than to try anything that may make her uncomfortable. This was our first
real meeting. If Duet or I moved too suddenly she would leap back and
far away. It wasn't going to be easy. I'd rescued another dog that was
living in a vacant lot across from my house for 2 months before I could
help her. I used some of the lessons I learned with her.
I decided not to go on our normal varied walking routines and just
focus on River and play in the wash with Duet. I called the people who
listed their names and phone numbers on the trap. I first called Marc.
He seems surprised at how close I had gotten to River and I told him I
would keep trying. I called Kelly and she filled me in on River's
history. I was shocked. I asked if anyone was interested in adopting her
if I was able to catch her. The three of us kept in close contact. So
that was how things got started.
For two weeks (minus three days I wasn't able to go see her) I visited
River. Right away I gained her trust by never forcibly approaching her.
I let her approach us. It was always on her terms. I would talk to her
and say her name and feed her treats. By about the third or forth day
she was eating treats out of my hand and I was moving my hand around
gently and slowly to desensitize her with more sudden movements. I was
eventually able to touch her on the side of her face while giving her
treats. This got easier over time as I was able to pet her later. At the
same time she got more use to her name, as when I would go to visit her
I would softly call out her name. She started coming out to play with
us. She would usually already be down in the wash and we would play with
sticks, hide and seek, and eat treats. People started to notice and some
started to feed her with treats the way I had started. I was pleased as
it was helping River to be more socialized. I figured the more people
who tried to help her this way the better. For me it was not a race. I
knew that I had to gain her trust on her terms only and I needed to take
the time. I needed to make sure I was able to catch her with 100%
certainty.
I started to get her to follow me. One visit I threw treats down while
we were walking and she followed. I thought I would try to get her to my
car and start training her to get use to my car, hoping I could
eventually get her in. She didn't like me trying (as she never let the
leash get close enough anyways) to put a leash on and so I stopped that
so she would continue to trust me. I felt the only way to catch her
successfully was to get her into a small area. The wash was too huge of
an area to control the situation. Then it dawned on me that after only
three times she had started to follow me without treats. So, I had my
eye on the park across the wash. It had fenced-in areas. So the last
three days I was visiting her, I chose a dug out cage on a batters
field. The first time Duet and I just sat in the cage, Duet eating
treats. River just stared at us from a distance and wouldn't come
anywhere near. I thought it was hopeless but I didn't give up. The next
day I tried again. I brought treats and canned food. Duet and I went in
and with much hesitation River joined us. She was very nervous, but I
let her come in and out as she wished. The third time she was inside
with us and very comfortable and I knew it was time to catch her. I
called and made arrangements with Marc who would help me after I caught
her.I would only have one chance. I was very nervous.So on the fourth
visit to the dugout was the morning I caught her at about 6am.
I couldn't sleep at all that night and at about 5:45 a.m. I went to find
her. She was sleeping near the bridge by the park to the east. I could
barely see but I had my flashlight. I called for her and I heard her
whimper. Then she joined us playing with Duet. We walked over to the
cage on the field. I got her in and I locked it up. It was about 6am if
I remember correctly. I called Marc and he was on his way. River was
calm the whole time eating and hanging out with us. Marc came about 6:45
. He came in with a crate. River was calm all the way up till he caught
her and put her in the crate. She hid behind my legs. My dog Duet , who
is usually scared and timid, seemed to be protecting River! But as soon
as River was in the crate River was calm again. The rest is history! It
couldn't have gone any better. River acted like she had been through it
before. She was so unexpectedly calm.
The reason I never forced her in a leash was I felt she wouldn't take it
well. What would I have done after I got her on the leash. I felt
strongly that she was going to fight it, which meant I was going to have
to drag her, only upsetting her more. Then what? Would I have to force
her into my car? I was not comfortable with that option. I trusted my
instincts and I did a lot of slow meticulous steps in order to catch her
and gain her trust. I tried to give her as much control as I could. I
let her think she had all the control . I gave her choices. I let her
decide whether to approach us or not etc. And it paid off. I was very
honored to have gained her trust and through her I met many wonderful
people, some of whom I hope will remain friends, all thanks to River. It
was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
