09-05-2025
Dumped dog gets rescued, now happily wagging his tail
SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (KCAU) — Dogs are a man's best friend, and thanks to the efforts from the Sergeant Bluff Police Department and a local expert, one dog is wagging his tail happily.
On April 22, Sergeant Bluff police responded to a call regarding a dog on Interstate 29, and he was later found down in the ditch.
'So, we had about three days worth of calls. People calling saying there was a dog roaming around the interstate area; 1st Street here in Sergeant Bluff. We were unable to locate it,' said Chief Jereme Muller with Sergeant Bluff Police Department.
'Later on, we got another call saying a couple of citizens had located the dog down in a culvert down by the interstate, So I responded and I could tell the dog was very ill and in need of some medical assistance,' said Officer Andrew Hansen with SBPD.
Amanda with Forever Wildlife Lodge and Clinic was called to the scene to take a look at the poor pup, and she immediately called up a vet to have him looked at.
'He had a lot of stuff in his stomach, so he had been foraging on like roadkill and bones and rocks and things like that, so he had been probably running for quite some time. And so when you have a belly full of that kind of stuff, it can cause major issues,' said Amanda Hase, with Forever Wildlife Lodge and Clinic.
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After being hospitalized for a couple of days, Oliver the dog – a mixed pooch – was treated for his condition, turning the once scared dog into a happy-go-lucky guy wanting some toys and pets.
Sadly though, cases like Oliver happen often.
'I get calls just almost pretty much weekly, daily on these situations. And so we help where we can,' said Hase.
Anyone caught dumping an animal in Iowa could face charges.
'It can be up to an aggravated misdemeanor, two years in jail, some fines. And it really depends on the animal when we find them, the condition and the circumstances,' said Chief Muller.
No one ever claimed Oliver, so now he's being taken care of while he waits for his forever home.
Sergeant Bluff police say they're happy to see the pup happy and full of energy.
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'Makes me feel accomplished [be]cause it kind of shows we're not we're not just there for people. We're also there for animals and [to] try to take care of everybody in everything that we can,' said Officer Hansen.
'It's fantastic. I'm a dog lover myself, and I think that we should if you have a pet, you should take care of them. And seeing him go from the worst to now his best is rewarding,' Muller said.
Oliver is up for adoption, if you're interested in taking home this happy dog, you can call 712-560-2253 and leave a voicemail.
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