Dog Saved After 111 Days On Its Own
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: October 26, 2012
TAZEWELL COUNTY- You've seen the lost dog signs before, but this is a story about the return.
Apollo is two years old. He got loose from his owner and survived 111 days on his own. He was roaming around a neighborhood in East Peoria.
A former shelter dog, Apollo had a large group of people concerned.
"We were beginning to think we couldn't get him because he was just so afraid," said Sharon Harrison, who works at TAPS in Pekin.
The animal shelter made flyers and a Facebook group; they even camped out to try and catch Apollo.
And the neighborhood pitched in too.
"We just kept an eye and then one day we were pulling up in our driveway and he was scared. He wouldn't come up to anybody, Crissy Gauwitz said.
Gauwitz said everyone on her street got to know the dog.
"He had a route where he would travel around down the street a few ways down by the brick yard, and so I'm sure he was getting fed by quite a bit of people," Gauwitz said.
Gauwitz was one of the people who fed him, she would even lay out a bed for him to sleep on.
"Gradually he just knew that I was not going to hurt him and he just stuck around," Gauwitz said.
One day he got just close enough to her.
"He was standing right next to me and I had my dog's tie out cable on the ground already so I just got it in my hand and when I seen his collar was right there I was feeding him ham at the time I just slowly hooked his leash," Gauwitz said.
Gauwitz and Harris both said it took the whole community to rescue this dog.. They think he might come from a background of abuse, and that's why he's so timid. But no one gave up.
"The last two days we've got nothing but overwhelming responses from everybody on how great the neighbors have been to do this," Harris said.
Apollo is living with Harris for now. She said he doesn't deserve to go back to a shelter, but she wants to find him a forever home.
"Hopefully we can find a family that's willing to be patient with him. Gain his trust and, he will be one that'll have to be walked on a leash all the time or kept in a good sturdy fenced yard," Harris said.
Harris said that neighborhood in East Peoria took such good care of Apollo, he actually gained 30 pounds. To find out more about adopting Apollo call taps in Pekin or visit their website.
Apollo is two years old. He got loose from his owner and survived 111 days on his own. He was roaming around a neighborhood in East Peoria.
A former shelter dog, Apollo had a large group of people concerned.
"We were beginning to think we couldn't get him because he was just so afraid," said Sharon Harrison, who works at TAPS in Pekin.
The animal shelter made flyers and a Facebook group; they even camped out to try and catch Apollo.
And the neighborhood pitched in too.
"We just kept an eye and then one day we were pulling up in our driveway and he was scared. He wouldn't come up to anybody, Crissy Gauwitz said.
Gauwitz said everyone on her street got to know the dog.
"He had a route where he would travel around down the street a few ways down by the brick yard, and so I'm sure he was getting fed by quite a bit of people," Gauwitz said.
Gauwitz was one of the people who fed him, she would even lay out a bed for him to sleep on.
"Gradually he just knew that I was not going to hurt him and he just stuck around," Gauwitz said.
One day he got just close enough to her.
"He was standing right next to me and I had my dog's tie out cable on the ground already so I just got it in my hand and when I seen his collar was right there I was feeding him ham at the time I just slowly hooked his leash," Gauwitz said.
Gauwitz and Harris both said it took the whole community to rescue this dog.. They think he might come from a background of abuse, and that's why he's so timid. But no one gave up.
"The last two days we've got nothing but overwhelming responses from everybody on how great the neighbors have been to do this," Harris said.
Apollo is living with Harris for now. She said he doesn't deserve to go back to a shelter, but she wants to find him a forever home.
"Hopefully we can find a family that's willing to be patient with him. Gain his trust and, he will be one that'll have to be walked on a leash all the time or kept in a good sturdy fenced yard," Harris said.
Harris said that neighborhood in East Peoria took such good care of Apollo, he actually gained 30 pounds. To find out more about adopting Apollo call taps in Pekin or visit their website.
