For several days, an Australian Shepherd had been seen wandering in Bell County, central Texas (USA). Although he was spotted on numerous lost dog pages, he proved impossible to catch, despite repeated attempts by local residents.
Alerted by these social media posts, Chloe Palousek decided to step in. Accompanied by her sister, she travelled to the city of Killeen, Texas, to try and get the dog to safety and find out more about his story.
A complex rescue and a shocking discovery
After following the dog for about five minutes, the two sisters set a trap using sausages. In less than three minutes, the animal was caught without any trouble.
Once the dog was safe, Chloe Palousek scanned his microchip. The information led them to his original owner, who is currently deployed in Poland until May. He explained that the dog, named Tobias, had been entrusted to another family before he left.
According to the details shared, Tobias was handed over to this family during an informal meeting in a Walmart car park. The family was never heard from again, suggesting that the dog was later abandoned, which would explain why he had been wandering the local streets for so long.
When Chloe Palousek was able to care for Tobias, she was struck by his physical condition. While bathing him, she explained that she could feel every one of his bones, suggesting the dog had not received the necessary care while he was stray.
A community rallies to find him a new home
Chloe shared Tobias's story on the r/AustralianShepherd subreddit, hoping to find him a new family. In her post, she mentioned that the original owner's only wish is for Tobias to now live in a loving home.
Tobias is currently in the care of the TAGG Rescue organisation. He is living with a foster family, but what he really needs is a proper family. For ever.
