German shepherd found frozen in fear in middle of highway — now looking for a home of his own
If you come across a stray dog, you have to be careful when approaching them. In some cases, a stray dog might be fearful of humans and could even attack if they feel threatened. This can make the rescue of stray dogs very dangerous. Fortunately, animal rescue workers are trained to deal with just such situations.
The story below is a great example of a rescue organization effectively dealing with an aggressive dog and giving him a chance at a new life.
Found in the middle of a busy highway
Sidewalk Specials, based in Cape Town, South Africa, received a call about a German shepherd in the middle of a busy highway. Worst of all, he was frozen in fear and would not move.
Fearing he would be hit, someone had called the organization in the hopes that he could be taken to safety.
Getting the dog to safety
At first, rescuers had some difficulty getting to the dog, which they ended up naming Stephen. His fear was so great that he snapped at rescuers as they tried to get ahold of him.
As a precaution, the rescuers had to place a muzzle on him, at least until they could get him out of the dangerous position he was in.
Getting Stephen treatment
Once at the vet, Stephen was diagnosed with a concussion. He was treated and, thankfully, all of his medication and treatments were covered by the kind donations of others. Soon, he was on the road to recovery and will, hopefully, find a loving home with a new family soon.
What to do if you come across a frightened dog
If you come across a frightened dog, there are some things you should do before approaching them. If the dog shows aggression, then do not approach them and notify the authorities instead. If they are not aggressive, start by getting down on the dog’s level, making sure not to get directly in their face when you do.
Avoid looking directly at them, as direct eye contact could be considered threatening or aggressive to the dog. You can avoid this by turning your head to the side and averting your eyes. Try speaking in a high-pitched voice with a happy tone, or more quietly if you have a deep voice.
Most importantly, never force an interaction with a dog that is showing fear. Slowly introduce yourself, offering them some food if you have it. This is especially important if the dog is in a precarious position, such as on a busy street like Stephen. Frightening them could cause them to run into traffic, which could lead to them getting injured or killed.
Sidewalk Specials
A foster-based program, Sidewalk Specials seek to help animals in dire need, such as abusive situations or scheduled for euthanasia. Also, the rescue organization runs sterilization drives to help reduce the number of animals on the street. It is believed that by doing so, they can cut down on the number of pets that could potentially suffer from abuse in the future.
To donate to Sidewalk Specials, check out the organization’s Website.
For more of Stephen’s rescue from his dangerous situation, watch the video below.
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H/T: Paw My Gosh, The Spruce Pets