River The Phantom Saint Of The North Carl's Rescue Page For MUGGINS

Click on Pics of River for more...

5/03/01: About 7 weeks ago I was contacted about a Saint Bernard that was seen moving up and down I-29 north in Kansas City, MO. I went to look for her but found nothing. A local radio station started taking spotter calls and calling me about the places she was being seen. This went on for about 3 days and then no sightings for almost 3 weeks. She then surfaced again in a small town about 1 1/2 miles west of the Interstate. She would show up at an intersection where there are 2 restaurants and receive handouts. She was observed to be very weak as she had been roaming for close to a month. She would not allow anyone to get close and if a hand was raised to throw her some food she flinched and ran. This indicated to me that she had probably been abused. I was contacted again and met with a few people in the area to formulate a plan. They already had a good pattern on her as she came for food early in the mornings and again after sunset. She was starting to feel a little more comfortable around people but no one could get close enough to get a lead on her. Many licensed darters were contacted as we were afraid that she was going to be hit by a car or worse but no one would come in to do the job. A local vet finally furnished some tranquilizers to make her groggy but her weight was underestimated and the night we got her to eat some food containing the pills we followed her in and around the wooded areas close to the intersection for about 3 hours but she never appeared to be affected. The vet finally saw her and estimated her weight at almost double the original guess and has now furnished enough of the drug to work. At this time we are letting her settle back into her routine and probably tomorrow night I will go back up there and we will try again. This will be updated as the saga continues.
5/04/01: Tried again this evening with what the vet thought would be the correct dosage. She ate a spiked cheeseburger at 10 PM and at 10:45 she started moving away. We followed her around hoping for a sign that she was being affected by the tranquilizer but to no avail.
I followed her into the woods and immediately lost her in the undergrowth. Walked around in there hoping to hear her but didn't. I hung around for another half hour be she didn't reappear. It is very frustrating to be so close and yet not be able to get her. We are still looking for a licensed darter who will come in and put her under for us
5/05/01: Today I hired a professional trapper who has a giant, humane wolf trap. I met him at the site and we set up the trap. His plan is to have everyone stop feeding River except for food put just inside the enclosure. As she becomes at ease with that, the food will be placed well past the trip treadle and hopefully she will lock herself in. He and I are now on 24/7 call status and he being closer to the site will monitor the situation calling me if he traps her. Cross your paws..

River

WE GOT HER!

5/05/01@10:35 PM I received a call from JODY PAUL the honcho of CRITTER CATCHERS stating that River was safely in his trap. I immediately responded to the site and there she was. An employee of the eatery that had been feeding her saw her near the trap and put some food in the end away from the door. River just walked in and so this guy armed the trap and River stepped on the treadle and she was caught. Jody was contacted and when he had verified that she, in fact, was caught called me to come and get her, I contacted Gloria and Chuck Douglas, friends that had worried over her and lived close and they responded. When I arrived Gloria was sitting next to the cage petting and stroking River who seemed to be taking her captivity very well. Since the first thing I had scheduled for River was a thorough checkup at my vet's who didn't open until Monday morning Jody volunteered to board her for me over the remainder of the weekend. Jody is the professional trapper and "Wild Animal Relocater" that I had hired to trap her as all of our previous attempts had failed. From the time that I contacted Jody until he had her in his trap only about 12 hours had past and we had tried to catch her for 2 months off and on as she was sighted. When in doubt call in a professional. Many thanks to Jody of Critter Catchers for saving this girl as the odds were constantly building against her. I will let Jody's web page tell you more about him and Critter Catchers; below is a link to his page.

http://www.crittercatchers.com

Jody Paul of Critter Catchers with River

River's Thank You List:

First of all I want to thank all of the individuals in the KC area and elsewhere that showed concern for River.
Next, to the Riverside, MO Police Department for watching over the rescue process but basically allowing me free rein in my activities
To Kathi and Ed Rule owners of the Corner Cafe at Gateway and Vivian Rd for allowing there GREAT employees to feed and spend a little time each day socializing and making River feel comfortable on their property so that she didn't relocate again.
To Tracey, <sp> the employee that realized that River could be caught if he armed the trap as he saw her going in and out for food. He did arm the trap and that did the trick.
To the Sonic Drive In and employees who also fed River.
To Gloria and Chuck Douglas and their friend Pam Hagedorn who tirelessly, night after night, went to the area where River was being seen to feed her and make reports to me on her apparent condition and locations of sightings.
To Sharen, an employee of the Corner Cafe as well as the City of Riverside, for alerting me that River had shown up in Riverside. She also went there late at night to add info to my pattern on River as well as feeding her and contacting various authorities and organizations trying to find someone to come in and help capture her.
To my vets at the AID Veterinary Hospital, Inc who handle all vet work for my rescues.
To Dr Cupp at Eagle Veterinary Hospital in Riverside who gave us medical information and offered us a place to take her immediately if, when we captured her, she needed rapid medical treatment. They also loaned us a "rabies stick", a pole with a cinch loop at the end if she turned out to be a fighter which she isn't.

5/07/01 Update: River is currently at my vet's hospital for a thorough checkup and all her needed vaccinations. If she hasn't already been spayed she will be as soon as her condition will allow the procedure. She weighed in at 128 pounds.
5/07/01 Update: At 6:06 PM my vet called to report that River's blood work was fine, that she is heart worm negative and that she will be spayed tomorrow morning. YES!
5/08/01 Update: Called my vet and River was in the recovery room following spay surgery. She is doing fine and I will pick her up in the morning.
5/09/01 Update: I picked River up this morning and discussed her with Dr Daniels. He said that while she was under they did a more thorough examination and found that she had a broken rear tooth which they extracted and a minor ear infection which they treated and gave me antibiotics for. She is now resting, after her 2 month plus ordeal, at Tanglewood kennel.
5/17/01 Update: This morning I checked River's spay site and it looked fine so I removed her sutures. She also received her first bath since her rescue. New pics added to her photo page at the above link.
5/25/01 Update: Visited River this morning and what a change in outlook and attitude. She used to just lay there and look at me but today she was at the outer gate to her run wig wagging. She looks better after her first bath but is really blowing under coat. She also still show signs of the ear infection which I am still medicating. I helped Gary, owner of the kennel, by repairing some partition displacement caused by my Saints so I let River, Cinnamon and Neosho out of their runs into the big cooperative run. River had to investigate everything and explored until the sun got high enough to heat her up at which point she settled down in the shade. She is really coming around and as soon as the ear infection clears up and I complete my evaluation she will be available for adoption. I always hate to see one of my rescues leave but it is really going to be hard to let her go as we have been through so much together.