Sometimes, saving a dog takes just one person. Other times, it takes a whole team.
Some rescues require more than a phone call or a quick drive to a shelter. Sandy Harris, hiking through Jones Gap State Park in South Carolina, learned this firsthand when she came across a severely wounded German Shepherd deep in the forest.
With no cell signal and a 75-pound dog in front of her, Sandy knew she couldn’t manage the rescue alone. Thankfully, she wouldn’t have to. By the next morning, a full team of rescuers arrived to help.
A Growing Team Of Strangers United By Compassion
Sandy had nearly abandoned her hike due to the heat when she spotted something unexpected: a German Shepherd with a badly injured front leg.
Without hesitation, she approached and offered food. But with no cell service in the two-mile radius and no way to carry the large dog alone, Sandy had no choice but to leave, promising to return.
That night, she reached out to Labor of Love Transport Rescue team and Luci, a skilled dog tracker.
The following morning, the team returned to the site, hoping the dog would still be there.
To their surprise, things had already started to shift. As they arrived with a stretcher, pain medication, and food, they spotted two hikers, Kyle and Morgan, who had found the dog and refused to leave her side.
The rescue team had grown.
“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.
Together, they carefully carried the dog down the rocky terrain and steep slopes using the stretcher.
More hikers joined along the way, offering assistance. After a three-hour descent, the dog, identified as Koco from her collar, was finally safe.
Sandy and the Labor of Love team were overwhelmed with gratitude. Transporting a dog of Koco’s size through the forest was no easy feat, but they succeeded.
More importantly, they helped her survive what may have been a life-threatening ordeal.
At the veterinary clinic, Koco was diagnosed with a broken leg. But further examination revealed something even more troubling: signs of past abuse.
She had a matching scar beneath her leg, suggesting she had likely suffered 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 Begins Her Healing Journey
Despite her injuries, Koco remained gentle and calm. At the clinic, she received the care she had long been denied: affection, comfort, and proper treatment.
Though she wore a collar, her microchip didn’t link to a working phone number. Even after multiple social media posts, no one came forward to claim her.
Koco underwent successful surgery and was placed in a loving foster home.
In a recent update, the South Carolina rescue shared uplifting 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 well underway, Koco now has a future filled with love and possibility. And she’s more than ready to embrace it.