He wanted to thank them ❤️
When Officer Davis of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control finally spotted the stray dog, she hoped the rescue would be quick. But even with a plastic jug stuck over his head, the pup proved anything but easy to catch.
“I just wanted to get the jug off him as soon as possible,” Davis said. “But as soon as I approached, he and his friend ran.”
Despite the jug blocking his vision, the dog took off at full speed. Davis chased after him, carefully pacing herself to make sure he didn’t overheat.
“It was tricky,” she explained. “There was a hole in the jug, but he was still at risk. I had to stop occasionally to let him rest.”
After about 30 minutes, Davis finally got her chance when the dog ran into a backyard. She was able to safely leash him and bring him to her truck.
“I was very relieved,” she said.
Getting the jug off
At the shelter, Davis tried removing the jug herself but quickly realized it was stuck too tightly. She brought the dog straight to the veterinary team for help.
Dr. Samantha Thurman and her staff carefully worked to remove it.
“We gently manipulated it until it finally came off,” Thurman said. “It was such a relief — a really great moment.”
When the jug was finally removed, the team braced for the dog’s reaction. Instead of fear or aggression, he surprised everyone.
“He just climbed into one of our technician’s laps,” Thurman said. “It was like he was saying thank you.”
How it happened
The jug turned out to be part of a dog food dispenser. The dog had likely stuck his head inside while trying to get food and got trapped.
“It’s a reminder that dogs can get into anything,” Thurman said. “People need to be careful about what’s left accessible.”
Looking for a home
Now named Jones, the once-stray pup is safe and recovering. He’s currently up for adoption through Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.
The shelter hopes to find him a patient, loving home as he adjusts to life off the streets.
“I’d love to see him go to a good home,” Davis said. “That would make me so happy.”