"Church Dog" captured after
nine months of eluding rescuers

After many months, rescuers finally succeeded in capturing a stray dog known as the "Church Dog" who has been living on the grounds of Cochran Chapel United Methodist Church in Dallas. On Saturday at approximately 3:15 a.m. the dog, which appears to be a German Shepherd mix, was collared with a slip pole and blankets by experienced rescuer Jean-Paul (JP) Bonnelly and several volunteer rescuers.

Since November 2009, the Church Dog - also known as "Jack" - has been spotted on and around the church property. Many concerned citizens have been leaving food and water and trying to lure the dog to safety. Dallas Animal Services and local rescuers attempted to catch Jack using various methods, including traps and tranquilizer darts, without success. Last month, rescue efforts intensified when the church's pastor allegedly threatened to shoot the dog and have his caretakers arrested. One rescuer witnessed the pastor chasing the dog into the street and when she pulled over to stop him, he told her that he "hoped the dog got hit by a car." After many calls and emails, as well as the planning of a public protest, the pastor agreed to let rescuers continue to come onto the church property to try to capture the dog.

The first step in this rescue attempt was a request to all Good Samaritans to stop feeding and coming near Jack. Two women had been alternating shifts to feed Jack every single day and in order to establish trust with them, it was important that others step back and allow Jack to bond with his guardian angels. After a few weeks, Jack became ill and stopped eating. Initially, rescuers thought that the illness would work in their favor because Jack would be weaker and presumably easier to catch. However, rescuers quickly learned that months of feral living had made Jack an incredibly smart and elusive dog, who was extremely skilled at evading capture. After several days, Jack's caretakers became concerned about his lack of appetite and began preparing home-cooked meals for him. Jack began eating again and regained his strength, but was still very thin. Clearly, Jack needed veterinary care and a good home. A coordinated rescue attempt was planned for August 13, but had to be rescheduled. On August 27, rescuers gathered at the Cochran Chapel UMC parking lot to try once again to capture Jack.

After three hours of being watched by the rescue team, Jack became sleepy enough for rescue team lead JP Bonnelly to sneak up and wrap him in a blanket. After only a few moments of struggling, Jack became very still and rescuers managed to loop him with the slip pole. Although he was clearly frightened, he lay still as the team spoke to him in soothing voices and tried to keep him calm. After several minutes, Bonnelly attempted to walk Jack to his car and once again, Jack showed how strong he was. He struggled for a while but as an experienced rescuer, Bonnelly stayed calm and maintained a strong hold on the pole to prevent Jack from hurting himself or anyone else. Jack's primary caretaker, Judy Guerrero, helped carry Jack into Bonnelly's car, where he was fitted with a collar and finally settled down.

Bonelly transported Jack to Operation Kindness, where he was bathed and examined. Jack has a bad case of heartworms and will require treatment, as well as extensive training and socialization, before he can be adopted. If you would like to donate to help with Jack's medical expenses, or to any of the many animals at Operation Kindness, please visit their website at www.operationkindness.org or call them at 972-428-PAWS.

Special thanks go to all the kind people who dedicated their time, energy, and funds to help Jack the Church Dog:
* Judy Guerrero and Penelope Hatteras, Jack's caretakers for over nine months
* Jean-Paul (JP) Bonnelly, Certified Pet Dog Trainer and owner of The Republic of Dog
* Elaine Munch, president of Metroplex Animal Coalition
* Rebecca Poling, Dallas Animal Rescue Examiner
* Susan Meyer, Executive Director of Kat 5 Animal Rescue
* Yvonne Ybarra, owner/publisher of DallasDogLife.com
* Kristie Scarbrough
* Everyone else who provided food, attempted to rescue, and provided encouragement and positive energy to the rescue teams!

For more pictures and status updates about Jack the Church Dog, please visit the DallasDogLife.com Facebook page.