This picture launched by the U.S. Coast Guard, exhibits Connie the container canine, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, with the 4 marine inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston who discovered her when randomly choosing containers for inspection on the Bayport Terminal on the Port of Houston. Petty Officer 1st Class Lucas Loe/U.S. Coast Guard by way of AP
It was simply one other routine day of inspecting delivery containers on the Port of Houston for U.S. Coast Guard officer Ryan McMahon when he and his crew thought they heard barking coming from inside one of many 1000’s of containers that surrounded them.
“Oh, it’s scratching, dude,” one of many inspectors stated in video they recorded Wednesday morning because the crew appeared up on the container, stacked about 25 ft within the air.
A crane was used to convey it to the bottom, and out popped a really candy and pleasant canine.
“As soon as we opened it, we could see the little dog’s face poking out. She was right there, like she knew we were going to be there to open it for her. And she just, she wasn’t scared or anything. She just seemed happy more than anything, to be out of that dark space and in the arms of people that were going to take care of her,” McMahon, a petty officer 2nd class, instructed The Associated Press on Friday.
Coast Guard officers would later decide that the canine — since nicknamed Connie the container canine — had been trapped inside for not less than eight days, with no meals or water.
She was a bit of soiled and “definitely pretty skinny,” McMahon stated.
Petty Officer 1st Class Lucas Loe/U.S. Coast Guard by way of AP
McMahon and the three different inspectors drove Connie to an animal shelter within the Houston suburb of Pasadena, the place she was checked out. A rescue group, Forever Changed Animal Rescue, has taken her in and is working to get her wholesome and prepared for adoption.
Coast Guard officers should not positive the place the container got here from, however inside had been junked automobiles that had been possible being shipped abroad to be offered for elements.
“So based on that, they think that the dog most likely was in a junkyard, in a car. And that’s how she accidentally got put in the container,” Guard spokeswoman Chief Petty Officer Corinne Zilnicki stated.
McMahon stated he’s grateful he and his crew had been on the proper place and on the proper time to listen to Connie barking and forestall the container from being placed on a cargo ship. They often conduct inspections as soon as per week all through the Port of Houston, and on Wednesday they had been on the port’s Bayport Container Terminal which possible has over 10,000 containers, he stated.
“It would take at least another week to get to where she was going (on a cargo ship) and two weeks without food or water. I don’t think she would have made it,” McMahon stated.
Forever Changed Animal Rescue thanked “all of the amazing people involved in this rescue and saving Connie’s life.”
The rescue group stated in a Facebook submit that Connie was a bit underweight, examined optimistic for heartworm and could be getting therapy for it.
“We will also be doing a full workup on her to ensure that she receives all the care she needs and deserves,” the group stated.
The inspectors had thought of adopting Connie, nevertheless it wasn’t the proper time for any of them.
“We know with all this, she’s going to go to a good home where they love her and take care of her,” McMahon stated.
