The story of a runaway dog at the Humane Society turned into a lifesaving rescue effort by Longview longshoremen Tuesday. ILWU Local 21 member Rocky Taylor lassoed the chihuahua from the river and rushed the dog to the veterinary team at the Humane Society, where the vets showered the dog with warm water and then covered it with heating pads and hot packs. Photo courtesy of Cowlitz County Humane Society
Crews at the Port of Longview saved a runaway Chihuahua that made it to the port’s cargo handling docks and plunged into the chilly Columbia River about 25 feet below Tuesday afternoon.
Maintenance staff, animal control and longshoremen attempted to catch the dog as he ran from dock to dock. The dog dove into the river, then frantically searched for driftwood as his legs grew tired from the swim, Harvey said. Longshoreman Rocky Taylor was working at a nearby dock when he witnessed the dog’s dive and lassoed the Chihuahua into safety with rope.
Taylor rushed the dog to the veterinary team at the Humane Society, which is located along Fibre Way. The pooch’s body temperature had dropped to 92 degrees, about 10 degrees below normal for a canine. The vets showered the dog with warm water and then covered it with heating pads and hot packs.
The Chihuahua is likely to be up for adoption soon, Humane Society Executive Director Keenan Harvey said.