It all started when a local resident's dogs began barking frantically towards the canal. Intrigued by their persistence, the owner went to the water's edge and spotted a small, motionless shape on her floating pontoon. It was an opossum, completely soaked and unable to get back to dry land.
Karenlynn Stracher believes the animal accidentally fell into the canal. After struggling against the current and failing to climb the smooth dock walls, it managed, with one last effort, to haul itself onto the isolated pontoon. ”I’m so grateful the dogs alerted their owner,” the rescuer said. ”Without shelter and being so wet, it would probably have frozen to death.”
A desperate attempt to find warmth
When Karenlynn arrived, she found the opossum lying exhausted, trying to sleep in a thin ray of sunshine to warm its frozen body. Using a large rescue net, she gently scooped up the animal before wrapping it in a warm blanket.
An examination revealed the opossum was suffering from exhaustion and severe hypothermia. The rescuer immediately placed it in a heated area, offering it a nutritious meal and fresh water. Within a few hours, thanks to this careful attention, the little castaway had regained its strength. It started showing the typical skittishness of a wild animal ready to be released.
Back to the wild
That same evening at dusk, Karenlynn took her little charge to a local park. As soon as she opened the carrier, the opossum didn't need a second invitation. It bolted into the undergrowth at full speed, finally back in its natural habitat.
Thanks to the owner's watchfulness, her dogs' keen noses, and Karenlynn's expertise, what could have been a tragedy turned into a wonderful story of survival. It's just more proof that our dogs can sometimes be the best coastguards we could ever hope for!
