Dog needs a ride home after master dies in crash (from Omaha to San Diego)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10577192

Published Tuesday March 3, 2009
Dog needs a ride home after master dies in crash
BY KEVIN COLE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A dog that lost its master in a fatal crash Sunday on Interstate 80 needs a ride home - from Omaha to San Diego.

Zak, a 1-year-old Besenji mix, was riding in the cab of a semi-trailer truck driven by Robert J. Shields when the vehicle lost control and crashed on I-80 near L Street. Shields, 59, died on the way to an area hospital.

Zak suffered a scratch on his head, but otherwise is doing fine, said Pam Wiese, a Nebraska Humane Society spokeswoman.


Zak, a 1-year-old Besenji mix.


"He played fetch today and seems to be doing very well," Wiese said. "This is a strange situation for him, because Zak has ridden with Mr. Shields since he was eight weeks old."

The humane society has ruled out sending Zak home by ground transportation. They'd thought about asking another trucker to take him but didn't want him riding with a stranger. Instead, the society is soliciting funds for air travel.

Wiese said $350 to $400 should reunite the 25-pound pooch with Shields' widow, Terry.

"Terry Shields indicated that she didn't have much money, so I told her to worry about getting her husband home, and we would take care of Zak," Wiese said. "She really wants him back ..."

Anyone wishing to donate is asked to make out a check to the Nebraska Humane Society, noting that it is for "Zak's Airfare." Any money over and above the cost of Zak's fare would be used for the next wayfaring pet.

[enigmatic]

1. I just donated

And told them to please give Zak a scratch behind the ears for me. What a beautiful dog and I'm so sorry this happened.

[KG]

2. what would be so terrible about riding in someone truck or car?

gotta be better than the belly of an airplane.

[Quantess]

4. I was thinking of Craigslist's rideshare section.

Can you imagine how many people would volunteer to give that dog a ride?

[ZombieHorde]

3. I would contact PETA. nt

[dysfunctional press]

8. i wouldn't contact the whackjobs at peta for ANYTHING.

they mostly just need to shut up and go away.

but- i am donating to the nebraska humane society.

[TBF]

5. Thanks for posting this -

I think this is their website: http://www.nehumanesociety.org/site/PageServer
I'm going to make a small donation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. So that's what Socorrista was.... true story

one of our patients died in hospital, and the dog... well after his owner passed the hospital moved

Somehow the dog found his way to us, physically and otherwise. We fed him, we took care of him... and he hated the Federales

at one point I considered going through the paperwork mess that would mean taking him to this side of the border... but he was a happy mutt.. and to a point a street mutt

Oh and the patient, he had no family, the dog was it

The most loyal street mutt I have ever met... though nobody looked forth to giving the dog his meds when he needed them...

And yes, they could send him with another trucker. I'm proof positive truckers know about zack and would be glad to get him home

That said, I partly understand their reticiensce

[Fire1]

7. Is there a particular 'branch' of the humane society where the

dog is located? I can spring for the difference of what they've already collected.

[Fire1]

9. I clicked on the link and got a phone #. Will call tomorrow.