Image: Jackie Smith / Ford is a mixed breed dog who was found wandering in the backcountry bush south of Chilliwack Lake Road, east of Chilliwack, sometime around April 24. Volunteers from Chilliwack tried to rescue the dog for the past two weeks in an effort to get him to a vet and treated, and because he was getting close to a calf in the bush. Ford was located and retrieved near a gravel pit on Chilliwack Lake Road Tuesday morning, May 9, according to Chilliwack resident Jackie Smith.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Residents rescue dog from backcountry

Residents rescue dog from Chilliwack River Valley backcountry

May 10, 2023 | 11:14 AM

CHILLIWACK — The story of a dog who was apparently tied to the back of a Ford pickup truck at one point on property in the Chilliwack River Valley, and later found languishing in backcountry bush, has a happy ending.

Social media lit up on Facebook the past week with the story of a jittery dog named Ford who needed a stable home, but would flee whenever humans would try to approach him.

“Every time someone tried putting a leash on him, he would growl and try to bite,” said Chilliwack resident Jackie Smith.

However, Ford’s life took a turn for the better Tuesday morning (May 9) when Smith reported that Ford, a mixed breed dog approximately three years old, was located near a gravel pit on Chilliwack Lake Road, and safely brought to a veterinarian to be examined and treated.

“It feels really good,” said Smith, who worked alongside Catherine Lillos, Ross Aikenhead, Julie Chadwick, and some Post Creek residents to rescue Ford. “He’s been caught, he’s at the veterinarian, and we’ll find him a permanent home.”

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The ordeal first arose around April 24 when residents of Post Creek, a remote subdivision of cabins and rustic vacation homes just west of Chilliwack Lake, became aware of a wayward pooch located somewhere in the bush at least 20 kilometres east of the Vedder Bridge, deep in the heart of the Chilliwack River Valley.

As Smith later found out, Ford’s travels brought him in close proximity to a calf in the forested terrain. This discovery prompted a call to provincial conservation officers.

“We called conservation officers because of the cow,” Smith said. “We found a calf in the bush. People were trying to trap the dog. We had a chat with a conservation officer, who gave us some ideas about how to snare a dog.”

Smith first got involved in the search for Ford due to a pet rescue organization she’s affiliated with. Rescuers at one point tried to enlist the help of a reputable business, Petsearchers Canada, but learned they were actively locating other dogs and weren’t able to assist at this time.

When Fraser Valley residents first read about Ford on Facebook, they naturally wanted to come locate him and assist in the rescue effort. However, too many people got involved and it actually made things worse, Smith said.

“For dogs, it causes fear and flight,” she said. “As soon as dogs get fear and flight, they don’t want to come up to the car. They’re just terrified. They just want people to toss food out the door.”

Sergeant Smith, a provincial conservation officer, was contacted in an effort to locate Ford. Sgt. Smith reportedly looked for Ford for approximately five hours, Jackie Smith estimates, but was unable to locate him. There were fears Ford would have to be tranquilized due to his proximity to a calf.

“My husband, daughter and I spent four hours Monday night trying to locate Ford,” Smith said. “We were going to work at 4 a.m. and coming back in the evening trying to locate him. This dog has been in the bush for two weeks. We were within 50 feet of bears. Not many of us had bush sense. It’s been an insane two weeks.”

Finally, the crew of six got the news they were waiting for. Ford was located near a gravel pit Tuesday and somehow retrieved.

“He’s got a sore paw and will be treated with antibiotics,” Smith said. “He’s going to decompress at someone’s house in Chilliwack. From there, we’re hoping to get him adopted.”