Just wait until you see his face …
The rescuers at Gateway Pet Guardians (GPG) have helped plenty of dogs out of sticky situations. But recently, one pup got himself so stuck he challenged even the most experienced rescuers.
The week of Valentine’s Day, reports started flooding GPG’s phoneline of a stray dog roaming the streets of East St. Louis with a purple bucket on his head.
Gateway Pet Guardians
The team had been tracking the brown stray for some time, but he’d always evaded capture. However, an empty bucket of cheeseballs proved too tempting for the hungry dog, and now his whole head was trapped inside.
The rescue team knew he was at risk of starvation, dehydration and suffocation — and they also knew he wouldn’t be easy to catch.
Gateway Pet Gaurdians
“Despite multiple search efforts, the elusive pup evaded capture until a concerned citizen sent a photo and location update on February 13. Although GPG responders located him that same day, he ran off again,” GPG wrote in a press release. “Undeterred, GPG staff returned the next morning with reinforcements, including staff from Stray Rescue of St. Louis, but again he escaped his rescuers.”
The stray dog, nicknamed Buckethead, was running out of time. But his fear of people wouldn’t allow him to accept help. With no other choice, the rescue team administered a light sedative via dart to slow Buckethead down just enough to capture him.
After so many failed attempts, they finally leashed him, and the bucket popped right off:
Gateway Pet Gaurdians
“We don’t know for sure as to how long he had been struggling with that bucket, but he had clearly been without food and water for at least three to four days,” Alisha Vianello, executive director of GPG, said in a press release. “Had it stayed on any longer, the outcome could have been tragic.”
Gateway Pet Guardians
While on the run, Buckethead was terrified of people, but once safely at the shelter with a full belly, his feelings quickly changed. He’s since become a staff favorite.
“He loves people and loves to give kisses and loves to get treats and snuggle,” Vianello told The Dodo. “He is excellent with other dogs, he’s such a good boy.”
Gateway Pet Guardians
And it doesn’t hurt that once the bucket came off, the pup’s face was sweeter than anyone imagined:
Gateway Pet Guardians
Without a microchip, no one is sure exactly where Buckethead came from, or if he had a family before his run-in with the infamous cheeseball bucket. But despite everything he’s been through, the resilient pup seems ready to love again, and GPG are hoping the perfect family will soon choose him.
“He was so scared when he was on the run, but now he has realized that people are his friends. I think he will make an excellent family pet,” Vianello said. “He has a great temperament and personality, I just adore him.”
If you are interested in adopting Buckethead, check out Gateway Pet Guardians’ website. To help other dogs like Buckethead get the help they need, you can make a donation to Gateway Pet Guardians here.
