Last month, a Metro Animal Services officer in Louisville, Kentucky, responded to a call about a dog who’d been abandoned in a bush for three days. When the officer arrived, she discovered the dog tied to a small tree with only a foot of give on a frayed leash. An empty pink plastic bowl sat nearby.
The caller mentioned that the dog became aggressive when approached but, according to the officer on the scene, was overjoyed to see someone heading his way. After a failed attempt to cut the leash with bolt cutters, the officer used a knife to free the dog from his lonely post.
In return, he gave her a full-body tail wag and an adorable cross-eyed expression.
Stephanie Jackson, public information officer at Metro Animal Services, said the dog arrived at their shelter in pretty good condition, considering his ordeal. After several days alone outside, he thankfully only had a few bug bites and was in desperate need of a bath. The staff got him cleaned up and named him Dubya, after former President George W., since he was found in a bush.
As far as Metro Animal Services can tell, Dubya is about 3 years old and one of the friendliest dogs they’ve encountered. “Whether it’s chasing toys or going for a brisk walk, Dubya’s always up for fun,” a volunteer wrote after an outing with the pup. He’s been called “a big goober,” a “bouncy bundle of energy” and a “loving” companion.
So far, it’s unclear who left Dubya tied up. He didn’t have a microchip and wasn’t neutered. Community members were also upset that whoever called about Dubya waited so long to do so, and posted their concerns on Facebook.
“We definitely do not recommend waiting [that long],” Jackson said. “If you see a dog tied to something with no one around, we would recommend calling animal control. Even if the dog doesn’t seem in distress, things can change really quickly.”
Luckily, Dubya is safe now. Metro Animal Services will make sure he is microchipped, neutered and vaccinated before heading to his forever home. Dubya is also being treated for an eye condition called entropion, which causes his bottom eyelids to fold in and extra fluid to flow out. It’s unclear whether Dubya has entropion, but Jackson said her team suspects this is the case.
While Dubya waits for the next steps in his wild journey, there’s no shortage of Metro Animal Services staff and volunteers vying for a chance to hang out with this lovable dog.
“He is very, very, very goofy and affectionate,” Jackson said. A volunteer who took Dubya to the groomers said, “This strong and playful pup loves romping around and is ready for adventure … He’d thrive in an active home.” He also gets along well with other dogs.
But for now, Dubya is still waiting to be adopted: “He’s had a few people saying they were coming in interested,” Jackson said, “but no one’s pulled the trigger yet.”