The Australian Shepard was more like a ghost in the neighborhoods near Tiny Town Road in Clarksville since summer 2014. Every so often, a resident would see the dog in the woods behind their homes, but getting to him proved to be a challenge.
"Everybody that was sent out there didn't respond and didn't make the effort to catch Patches like they should have," said Montgomery County Animal Control Officer Rodney Journey.
Patches was a name he acquired by one resident who left food out for him for 17 months. That same person noticed Patches' front leg was caught in his collar, and he badly needed help.
"Running for his life day after day and not only that, injured with his arm up through his collar," said animal control director Jeanette Ferrell.
When Ferrell came on board in February, she put a number of resources on this particular case, including hunting cameras and traps to try and capture Patches.
"Patches never went in it. Everything else did, raccoons, cats - but not Patches," Journey explained.
Finally this month, with the help of another resident, they set up a kennel which was attached to a 500 foot parachute cord. It was just enough to pull the crate shut from the front porch of the house whenever Patches decided to make an appearance.
"We did that for four nights. On the fourth night Patches went in and she pulled it closed, and called me at 5 a.m.," said Journey.
"I was shocked that he let us walk right up to him and pet him," Ferrell said.
Patches was no longer a dog on the run.
"Poor Patches. I can't even imagine running for 17 months and then to find out that it was almost four years," said Ferrell.
Four years without a home or a warm bed, but that has changed.
"He's a wonder dog. He really is, he's just awesome. His personality is great, he's a survivor, he really is," said Ferrell.
Patches is microchipped, which is how they found his previous owners so fast. Unfortunately because of some domestic issues he cannot go back to that home. He will be adopted out to a forever home after he's recovered in about a month. Patches is currently being fostered by Ferrell.
(NewsChannel5 - Dec 30, 2015)
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