Dog rescued after being trapped in a shipping container in Texas
One lucky pup’s life was likely saved last week when a group of Coast Guard inspectors found her trapped in a shipping container at a Texas port.
The dog, who has since been named Connie the Container Dog, was trapped in a shipping container for at marine science technicians Bryan Wainscott, Lucas Loe, Ryan McMahon and Jose Reyes found her Wednesday at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, Coast Guard Heartland said on Facebook.
The marine inspectors were randomly selecting containers to be inspected when they heard barking and scratching from one of the containers in a stack, USCG Heartland said.
The container was stacked about 25 feet in the air and had to be lowered by crane.
“When they lowered the container and opened the door, a dog popped out!” according to USCG Heartland.
USCG Heartland said the “sweet girl” was “tired, hungry, and very happy to see her rescuers.”
Video posted to Facebook by USCG Heartland showed Connie wagging her tail, sniffing around and drinking water given to her when she was finally freed.
Coast Guard officials determined Connie had been trapped for at least eight days with no food or water. She was dirty and skinny when she was freed.
Officials said they aren’t sure where the container came from, but it was filled with junked vehicles, most likely on their way to be sold for parts overseas. Based on that, Chief Petty Officer Corinne Zilnicki said, Connie was most likely in a car at a junkyard when she was accidentally trapped in the container.
If that was the case, McMahon said, it would have most likely been another week before Connie got where she was going by cargo ship, meaning she would have been without food for two weeks.
The marine inspectors took Connie to the Pasadena Animal Shelter for care, the shelter said on Facebook.
Connie was then transferred to Forever Changed Animal Rescue, or FCAR, on Friday, the rescue agency said on Facebook, after its founder and veterinarian, Dr. Andrea Deoudes, saw Connie’s story while scrolling Facebook.
Soon after, the rescue agency said its Texas coordinator was sure it would be able to find her “the amazing home that she is so deserving of.”
“In just a few short hours, we experienced the joyful moment that Pasadena Animal Shelter chose us to become the rescue that gives Connie her new shot at life,” the agency said on Facebook. “Without hesitation and not knowing Connie’s health, we knew that our medical fund would be well spent on her.”
Connie weighs 30 pounds, which is slightly underweight, FCAR said. She tested positive for heartworm, which FCAR said it was going to start treating ASAP. The rescue agency said it would also do a full examination.
It added that she is “incredibly sweet but very shy and scared of her new surroundings as to be expected.”
“We can’t thank all of the amazing people involved in this rescue and saving Connie’s life,” FCAR said.
The rescue agency’s Facebook post is filled with comments of users expressing interest in adopting or fostering Connie. It wasn’t clear whether she has found her forever home.