LOST DOG: BUD - Home Recovering

BUD: FOUND Alive After Almost a Week in a Coyote Trap
by Nova Scotia Lost Dog Network on Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7:46pm

Feb. 17, 2011

FOUND: BUD, Shepherd/Bernese Mt. Dog, Belmont area, outside Truro. Found trapped for almost a week in a Coyote Snare… alive and in surgery… our thoughts and prayers go out to Bud and his family tonight.

“LOST DOG: Our family dog Bud has went missing, we have looked everywhere and have had no luck. He’s about 80-90 lbs German Shepard/Bernese Mountian Dog, fixed, very friendly. He should be wearing a camo neck scarf….Last seen in the Belmont area, outside TruroPlease call or email if you have any information, good or bad!!”

BUD was found today… His Uncle went out on his Skidoo into the woods behind his house.  Stopping to turn off the engine and call for Bud, he was finally heard crying in the distance. Bud was found caught in a trap..a snare around his neck.  It was so tight and deep, it was hard to get him loose.  With much difficulty Bud was freed and brought back home on the skidoo.  His family took him immediately to the Vets.  And that is where he is now… Bud will be going under surgery tonight to clean up the infection and to sew his muscle and tissue back together.  We must all keep him in our thoughts.  The Vet was hopeful and said that Bud was very lucky as his arteries were not damaged.  She is confident that Bud will get home in the next day or so.

Buds little friend, the families daughter is a little in awe of all this as she was there when Bud came out of the woods.  The vet told her that Bud is going to look a little like Frankenstein as he will have stitches all the way around his neck.  It’s going to look like his head has been sewn back on.  That’s a lot for any of us to digest.

Trappers, by law, are expected to check their traps every two days.  It looks like Bud was in the trap since Sunday past.  Breaks my heart.  I’ve heard trappers tell me that dogs in snares are different as they are used to being on leash and don’t pull on the snare.  This is so not true.  Snares are like very strong, metal, cable ties… with each pull the snare locks another notch tighter.  In these heady days of the Coyote Cull we need to be diligent in educating ourselves on how to remove snares and even learn to carry wire cutters on our woodland walks.  We will be adding a document tonight to our notes on how to remove traps and snares.

We are pleased that Bud has been very brave and now he is so close to coming home.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mister Bud and his family.  Thank you for allowing us to share and learn from Buds story.

February 22, 2011

BUD’s RECOVERY: Bud is doing GREAT!!! He has even let out a bark, the first sound since he was brought home. A wonderful sign that his throat isn’t damaged. And because they don’t want to leave him to scratch at his neck, he is going everywhere with the family… one happy dog!! He’s a little hesitant to do much outside other than his business. Can’t blame him. And it is confirmed his new nickname is FrankenBUD!! hee hee… Good to have some humour… gets us through the tough times. His owner says: “Thank you so very much for everything and please tell everyone bud is doing GREAT!!”