Idaho Archives - i Still Love Dogs

Border Collie Mix Thrown from Idaho Car Wreck Found…Herding Sheep

During a car crash on an Idaho street Sunday morning, a 2-year-old Border Collie/Heeler mix named Tillie was thrown from one of the vehicles involved. She ran off into a field — and then seemed to disappear.

The Idaho State Police (ISP) issued a news release asking for witnesses to the wreck and urging everyone in the area to keep an eye out for Tilly.

“Tilly has no tail, a dark-colored face, weighs approximately 70 pounds, and was wearing a multi-colored plaid and tan-colored collar with a name tag containing the owner’s contact information,” the news release said. “Tilly’s family is from Hayden and is doing all they can to find the dog.”

Two days later, Tilly was discovered doing what Border Collies like to do: She had found her way to a farm and was herding the sheep there.

Although she lost some weight and was pretty thirsty, Tilly’s owner said the lucky dog was otherwise fine, KHQ reports.

However, as someone commented on the KHQ Local News Facebook page, “Once a Border Collie/Heeler mix has had a taste of sheep herding, he/she will never be satisfied with nipping at the feet of toddlers again.” True.

Photo: Idaho State Police

Dog Run Over by 13 Trains Lives to Bark About It

Loki, a 14-month-old Pit Bull/American Bulldog mix, escaped from his yard in Kuna, Idaho, the morning of Feb. 17, and wandered to the train tracks about 100 yards away.

Around 10:30 a.m., he was struck by a train. And then another. And then 11 more throughout the day.

“They hate hitting animals, but they can’t stop that train,” Loki’s dog dad, Ryan Rossi, told ABC News today. “They just considered [Loki] was dead after they hit him.”

Finally, around 4:30 p.m., the conductor of the 13th train that hit Loki saw the dog lift his head. The conductor called animal control.

Rossi and his wife, who had spent the day looking for Loki and posting Lost Dog messages on social media, got a phone call that evening that Loki had been hit by a train.

“Oh my god. It was devastating,” Rossi told KTVB.

Fearing the worst, Rossi, his wife and their two kids drove to the WestVet Animal Emergency Center.

“When we went back to say our final goodbye, he lifted his head and smiled,” Rossi told ABC News. “If he’s fighting, we’re fighting.”

Loki was laying in the middle of the train track when he was run over multiple times. “He’s not a huge dog, and so thank god he was low enough,” Rossi told KTVB.

Although he lost his rear left leg, left eye and tail, Loki is making a remarkable recovery. The Rossi family brought him home from the hospital Saturday, and by the next day, Loki was having no problem getting around on three legs.

“Every day I look at him and he’s moving more and more,” Rossi told ABC News. “He’s adapting so quickly. It’s just a miracle.”

A “Lucky Loki” GoFundMe page has been created by a family friend to help cover the cost of Loki’s surgeries. As of this morning, about $7,100 of the $10,000 goal has been raised.

Photos via Twitter; Twitter

Sheep Dogs Guard Fawn’s Body after Idaho Wildfire

Some of the worst wildfires in U.S. history have swept across western states this week, burning about 7.2 million acres. Among the victims were, tragically, three firefighters in Washington state. The fires have also undoubtedly killed scores of wildlife.

One of those four-legged victims was a fawn in Kamiah, Idaho, who probably had nowhere to run when a fast-moving wildfire roared through the town, destroying more than 40 homes.

Louis Armstrong found the fawn while checking his property after the fire.

“This one got me in the feels,” he said, according to Big Country News Connection. “Lots of destruction and sadness in the Kamiah area. I found this dead fawn Monday morning. An hour later this sheep dog and her two pups are here protecting it.”

A picture he took of the fawn and her three guards has gone viral.

“They have been here for hours and won’t leave,” Armstrong said. “Barking at people that come near (although they are very nice).”

The three dogs remained there, protecting the lifeless fawn from predators, until the sun set more than 13 hours later.

This one got me in the feels, too.

Photo via Facebook