Sometimes a rescue begins with one person doing the right thing. Other times, it grows into something much bigger.
Not every dog can be saved with a single phone call or a short trip to a shelter. Sandy Harris discovered that reality while hiking through Jones Gap State Park in South Carolina, when she encountered a badly injured German Shepherd far from help, deep in the woods.
With no cell service and a seventy five pound dog unable to walk, Sandy knew she could not do this on her own.
What she did not know yet was that by the next morning, a group of complete strangers would come together to make sure the dog survived.
Strangers Come Together On The Trail
Sandy had nearly cut her hike short because of the heat when she noticed something that stopped her in her tracks.
A German Shepherd was lying nearby, her front leg severely injured.
Sandy moved closer and offered food, which the dog accepted. But the reality was impossible to ignore. There was no cell service anywhere within two miles, and carrying a large injured dog out alone was not an option.
With no other choice, Sandy left, promising the dog she would come back.
That evening, she contacted Labor of Love Transport Rescue and reached out to Luci, an experienced dog tracker, explaining what she had found.
Early the next morning, the rescue team returned to the area, unsure whether the dog would still be there.
What they found surprised them.
As they arrived carrying a stretcher, pain medication, and food, they spotted two hikers already with the dog. Kyle and Morgan had found her earlier and refused to leave her side.
In that moment, the rescue effort grew larger than anyone expected.
“We sent out a few people to rescue a dog who was injured and deep in the woods. Those few people turned into an army. Everyone we passed on the trail was eager to help,” the South Carolina rescue shared.
Working together, they carefully lifted the dog onto the stretcher and began navigating the steep, rocky terrain.
As they moved down the trail, more hikers stopped to help. One by one, strangers stepped in, taking turns carrying the stretcher.
After a grueling three hour descent, the dog was finally out of the woods. Her collar revealed her name was Koco, and she was safe at last.
Sandy and the Labor of Love team were overwhelmed with gratitude. Carrying a dog Koco’s size through the forest had been exhausting and difficult, but the group never gave up.
Most importantly, they had saved her from a situation that could have easily taken her life.
At the veterinary clinic, Koco was diagnosed with a broken leg. As the exam continued, something even more concerning came to light.
She had a matching scar beneath her leg, raising suspicion that she may have suffered abuse in the past.
The injury appeared consistent with a gunshot wound.
“X-rays confirmed a complete break of both bones in her right front leg. The bones, however, were not displaced and could not account for the exterior puncture wound at the break sight,” the rescue added.
Koco Starts Her Road To Recovery
Through it all, Koco remained calm and gentle. At the clinic, she finally received what she had been missing for far too long, care, comfort, and kindness.
Although she wore a collar, her microchip did not connect to a working phone number. Despite multiple posts shared on social media, no one came forward looking for her.
Koco underwent surgery successfully and was placed into a loving foster home to continue her recovery.
In a recent update, the South Carolina rescue shared encouraging news. Koco’s cast had been removed.
“Our girl Koco had her cast removed yesterday and is healing like a champ! She’s feeling so much better,” LLTR reported.
With her recovery progressing well, Koco now has a future filled with safety, love, and new beginnings. She is more than ready to step into it.