- “It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” said Nicole Asher, owner/founder of Buddha Dog Rescue & Recovery based in New Jersey.
- Lilly was hiding in thick reeds along the New York State Thruway. At one point, Lilly made her way to the wooded area along the Palisades Interstate Parkway into New City.
The story of little Lilly grabbed dog lovers across Rockand County. The black Lab was being transported from Texas to be fostered here. On Jan. 25, she escaped the big rig carrying her while at the Nanuet commuter lot off the Thruway.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, after weeks in hiding amid frigid temperatures and snow, Lilly was finally found.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” said Nicole Asher, owner/founder of Buddha Dog Rescue & Recovery, based in New Jersey.
Asher spent days and nights tracking Lilly in and around the area of the Thruway. The dog, from what Asher has put together and observed, was hiding in thick reeds along the highway. At one point, Lilly made her way to the wooded area along the Palisades Interstate Parkway into New City.
Lilly the lab called a ‘tough cookie’
She was finally caught in the truck rest area along the Thruway, near where Asher had first seen her tracks in the snow.
“She’s a tough cookie,” Asher said. “She survived through some intense, intense cold spells.”
Asher, with the help of volunteer Dawn Berry, patiently waited for Lilly to build up the courage to enter an enclosure placed there.
Lilly had been around the Thruway for stretches at a time, Asher said. It was imperative that she be brought to safety as quickly as possible.
“It was dangerous location,” Asher said. “One false move and she could have been waffles on the Thruway.”
Asher said there were several close calls. “But she was so trap savvy, she wouldn’t go in anything.”
The dog was finally lured into the enclosure at 4:23 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
“We are so relieved,” Asher said. “She’s the sweetest little thing.”
Lilly was among 3 dogs left behind when owners were evicted
Lilly ended up in foster care after her owners in Texas were evicted. She was one of three dogs left behind, Asher said.
Lilly was being transported to the East Coast for foster care. The nonprofit that had originally been facilitating the foster, Labs4Rescue, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Asher, who was only called in later to track Lilly, said that Lilly had gotten free of a slip lead when she was being transferred at the commuter lot.
Cuts, abrasions and skinny after 17 days on run
Lilly was about 57 pounds when she went missing. Asher said when they were able to rescue her, she was around 43 pounds and covered with cuts and abrasions.
Asher took her to an emergency vet, who checked Lilly out, free of charge. “Overall, she was fine,” Asher said.
Four Legs Good NY NJ was holding onto Lilly until a volunteer from the rescue organization could come get her.
Lilly was in a scary situation, said Michael Sanducci, shelter manager at Four Legs Good. “Out there on the side of the Thruway of all places.”
Nixie Gueits, president of Four Legs Good, said Lilly was placed with them for a short period and picked up Tuesday. Buddha Dog Rescue & Recovery, she said, “is a wonderful organization.”
Sanducci added that the rescuers slept in their cars through snowstorms seeking Lilly day in and day out. “The dedication and commitment is out of this world.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
