When Officer Davis of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control spotted a dog wandering the streets with a plastic jug stuck over his head, she knew she had to act fast.
The jug covered most of the dog's face and severely limited his vision. But somehow, the determined pup was still running around with another dog as if nothing were wrong.
Davis approached, hoping she could quickly free him.
Instead, both dogs took off.
“I found the dog, and I just really wanted to get the jug off him as soon as possible,” Davis said. “He was hanging out with his friend, and when I approached, both dogs split and ran.”
Davis chased after the dog, but catching him wasn't going to be easy.
The plastic container had a hole in it, which allowed him to breathe, but the poor pup was still at risk of overheating as he ran around with it covering his head.
So Davis repeatedly stopped the chase to give him opportunities to rest and cool down before continuing.
After about 30 minutes, the frightened dog finally ran into a backyard.
Davis was able to get a leash around him and safely bring him to her vehicle.
“I was very relieved,” Davis said.
But there was still one big problem.
The jug was stuck firmly around the dog's head.
Davis tried to remove it herself but quickly realized she could hurt him if she forced it. Instead, she rushed him back to the shelter, where veterinarian Samantha Thurman and her medical team were ready to help.
The team carefully examined the plastic container and began working it loose, slowly manipulating it around the dog's head.
Finally, it came free.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
But what happened next was something nobody expected.
The rescuers weren't sure how the frightened dog would react after being trapped inside the jug for who knows how long. They even instinctively stepped back, worried he might snap at someone.
Instead, the sweet pup walked straight into the lap of one of the veterinary technicians.
It was almost as if he understood exactly who had just saved him.
“When we took it off, we kind of jumped back, not knowing if he was going to attempt to bite anybody,” Thurman said. “Then the sweet boy just climbed into one of our veterinary technicians' laps and was like, ‘Thank you for taking this off my head.’”
The object that had caused all the trouble turned out to be the plastic lid from a self-feeding dog food dispenser.
Thurman believes the curious pup somehow managed to stick his head through the opening where food normally drops into the bowl, only to discover that getting back out wasn't nearly as easy.
His story is also a reminder that dogs can get themselves into surprisingly dangerous situations when they're exploring.
“Dogs are mischievous and they can get their heads stuck in anything,” Thurman said, urging pet owners to keep potentially dangerous objects safely out of reach.
After his rescue, the dog received a new name: Jones.
And now, instead of wandering the streets with a plastic jug over his head, Jones is waiting for something much better — a family of his own.
Jones is available for adoption through Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Since he's adjusting to life indoors after spending time on the streets, his rescuers are hoping to find him a patient, loving home.
“I would love to have him go to a good home,” Davis said. “I would be so happy.”
For Jones, one strange day that began with a terrifying chase ended with something much sweeter: a lap to curl up in and the first real chance at a safe, happy life.
For more information on how to make Jones part of your family, go to his adoption profile on the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control’s website.
