When rescuers Hanah Hueston and Kathleen Orcutt received word about a frightened Husky abandoned on a lake, they wasted no time packing their gear and setting off to help.
When they arrived, their eyes fell on the pup curled tightly on the dock, trying to make herself invisible.
The moment the dog—later named Mingo—noticed them, she stood and edged closer to the water, her tail tucked firmly beneath her and her eyes wide with fear.
Though they didn’t know her story, it was obvious that she had endured trauma.
Finally Brought To Safety
Orcutt began carefully inching toward Mingo.
The pup lowered her head, scanning desperately for a way out. Frozen with fear, she could barely move.
“And the closer I got to her, even as slow as I was going, she was looking around, looking for her exit route. She wanted to go past me, but she was too scared to,” Orcutt told The Dodo.
Balancing on the edge of the dock, Mingo looked ready to leap into the icy water. If she did, her rescuers were prepared to dive in after her.
Thankfully, she stayed put, and Orcutt managed to slip a leash gently over her neck.
The team quickly transported her to Vermilion County Animal Regulations and Animal Shelter in Danville, Illinois.
Confused and distrustful, Mingo wanted nothing to do with people. The rescuers suspected she had lived outdoors her entire life, with little to no human contact.
At the shelter, she stayed on high alert, tail tucked tightly under her body. She even growled when anyone tried to reach out.
Still, her rescuers remained patient, giving her the time she needed to adjust.
They started offering her treats, hoping to slowly build trust. Hueston and Orcutt also began working on gentle touches.
“We started just small, light touches, and if she didn’t like it, we would stop,” Hueston explained to The Dodo.
Learning To Trust Again
The real breakthrough came when Mingo was introduced to another shelter pup named Ralphy.
The moment she saw him, her ears perked up—and for the very first time, her tail lifted.
From that point, progress came faster. Surrounded by patient rescuers and encouraged by her dog friend, Mingo began to let her guard down.
Hueston was overjoyed when Mingo finally allowed her to be petted. For the first time, the Husky relaxed into human touch, even flashing a joyful smile.
Everyone who had helped her was proud of how far she had come. They hoped she would soon find a family willing to continue guiding her healing journey.
After three weeks at the Illinois shelter, Mingo transferred to a rescue group. It wasn’t long before her sweet spirit caught the eye of a loving family.
Now, instead of fear and loneliness, she’s surrounded by kindness, patience, and unconditional love.
Thanks to her devoted rescuers, Mingo has been given the chance at the happy, normal life every dog deserves.