THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2014 – Two animal control officers assisted a dog in a sticky situation today.
The black-and-white, male, Labrador-shepherd mix was discovered roaming as a stray Thursday afternoon in the Sky Valley area, in unincorporated Riverside County east of Desert Hot Springs. A concerned resident tipped off Riverside County Animal Services and two officers responded.
Officers couldn't help but notice the dog's unusual situation: His head was stuck inside a large, cylinder, plastic jug. The container is commonly found at stores and usually filled with such snack items as pretzels or cheese balls. But not a dog's head!
"Plastic containers, especially ones that used to have food in them, are curiosity magnets for critters," Riverside County Animal Services Commander Rita Gutierrez said.
"This is another major reason why people shoudn't litter – and, of course, why people shouldn't let their pets roam freely," said Gutierrez, who once pulled a child's toy teapot off a skunk's head. "Not only is littering terrible for the environment, but our pets and wildlife get curious and sometimes that curiosity can lead to serious injuries, or even death, all because of the trash people discard."
Riverside County animal control Lt. Luis Rosa and Officer Gerald Duchene caught up with the dog along Lyons Boulevard. Lt. Rosa was forced to use a tranquilizer dart because every time he and his colleague tried to get near the dog, he would scurry away. Once the dog was sedated, Officer Duchene was able to easily remove the dog's plastic prison. He then carried the dog to his truck.
Veterinary technicians at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms examined the dog and he appears healthy, despite having a plastic jug on his head in temperatures that reached 105 degrees.
"We do not know how long he had that thing on his head, but it couldn't have been a comfortable situation in this terrible heat," Lt. Rosa said. "He wouldn't have lasted much longer in this heat. He would not have been able to eat or drink as long as that jug was on his head. We're very happy we were able to help him out of a jam."
