A stretch of the Detroit River near Ecorse, Michigan is a popular location for photographers. It is abundant with wildlife and provides breathtaking natural views.
A photographer was taking pictures on a cold day when he noticed a dog wandering across the frozen river. Coyotes from the neighboring forest pursued him, forcing him to move to the center of the ice.
Animal rescue agencies searched for four days for a way to capture the dog and transport him to a secure location. They had to keep in mind that the coyotes continued to wait for the animal at the riverbank even as the temperature continued to drop. Many anticipated that the dog would either become a meal or suffer from the extreme cold.
Animal rescue and the fire department were requested to help, but they refused. The circumstances were too dangerous.
On the fourth day, people saw a man on the Canadian side of the river launch his airboat and begin searching for the dog. This man was Jude Mead, a Canadian rescuer.
Jude located the dog almost immediately. The animal had become marooned on Mud Island. Jude and a companion bundled up the canine and went to the Michigan border. There, Patricia Trevino of the River Rouge Animal Shelter took the dog from the courageous rescuers and then rushed the animal to a hospital.
The dog, whom they named Alfonso, was suffering from frostbite, starvation, and severe pancreatitis. He also had blocks of ice frozen on his matted fur. They needed to place him in a pressurized oxygen chamber to aid in his recovery.
The vets described his Alfonso’s survival as a miracle. His thick, matted fur saved his life. It protected his body and helped him retain some body heat. If he had been groomed, he would have most probably died.
Alfonso will spend multiple weeks in the hospital. After he has fully recovered, he will live in a foster home until an adoptive family is found.
Source: WXYZ-TV Detroit | Channel 7
