Dog Who Roamed Alabama for Months with Trash Can Top Stuck on His Head Is Finally Free
The box that caged in Bear the dog's face for nearly a year was from a large trash can similar to those found at parks and fast food restaurants
A Cane Corso dog who roamed the streets of Mobile, Alabama, for months with a boxy trash can top on his head has finally been freed, according to reports.
Martin Miller, a "Scottish dog rescuer living in the Deep South," according to his Instagram, shared an update on the social media platform about the dog, named "Bear," on Wednesday, in which he detailed how rescuers managed to remove the canine's headgear after nearly a year of trying.
"HUGE NEWS!! There was a dog in Mobile, Alabama, that had a box trapped on its head for almost a YEAR. Traps didn't work because the box was too big," Miller began the post.
"Well, today, the amazing team from BOTH The City of Mobile Animal Services and Mobile County Animal Shelter came together, and we got the box off the dog's head!" he continued. "I'm so proud to be part of such an amazing group of people! And to all the members of the community that works so hard to try and help this!! A huge congratulations to everyone involved!"
Alongside his caption, Miller shared images of the dog with the trash can top on his head and Bear's rescuers posing with the boxy top after removing it from the dog's head.
CBS affiliate WKRG closely followed Bear's story and rescuers' efforts to free the dog, including sharing a report about the canine's unfortunate situation in late January.
Mobile resident Larry Martin told the outlet in January that his son had first seen the dog two months earlier. Martin saw Bear and his head accessory for himself shortly after his son did and described the sight as "something out of a horror movie."
In January, WKRG also shared that the City of Mobile Animal Services (COMAS) had made multiple attempts to remove the trash can top but could not get close enough to Bear to free him. Releasing Bear from the trash can top was made more difficult because food-based traps were ineffective, as the dog appeared well-fed despite the cumbersome box on his head.
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A spokesperson for the city told WKRG in mid-February that they were cooperating with the Mobile County Animal Shelter and a local veterinarian to find ways to tranquilize the dog and remove the trash can top safely.
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Tranquilizers did not end up being needed. On Feb. 21, rescuers from COMAS and Mobile County Animal Shelter were able to get close enough to Bear to remove the box. Unfortunately, the dog fled afterward.
COMAS reunited with the dog shortly after. On Feb. 26, the agency shared on Facebook that Bear was safe and in its care.
"Bear has made it to COMAS! Bear, the Cane Corso known for previously having a box stuck on his head, was caught by our Animal Control Officers over the weekend. He is a sweet gentleman, and he's in good health. He is currently on a stray hold," COMAS wrote alongside two photos of Bear standing in the sun.
It wasn't until the box was removed from Bear's head that rescuers better understood the contraption.
Robert Bryant, the director of COMAS, explained to WKRG that it was "the top of a trash can like a public trash can that you would see out on the street or in a fast food restaurant."
He added that Bear likely was "going through the trash somewhere and couldn't get the box back off his head when he stopped."
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