A healthy, affectionate dog was chained to a tree in a wildfire zone without a single clue as to why she was left there. Authorities are looking for answers
In a remote stretch of forest along a trail in Whiskey Creek, British Columbia, a cry for help broke through the quiet. It was the cries of a dog, one that had no business being out there alone, much less chained to a tree with no sign of shelter, food, or explanation. Those cries saved her life.
Janet O’Reilly was out walking her dogs early that morning when she first heard it. She couldn’t pinpoint where the sound was coming from, but something told her to remember it. Later that day, a neighbor mentioned hearing the same cries. That was all Janet needed to turn around and head back with purpose.
Deep in the woods, she found a healthy, two-year-old mixed-breed dog chained to a tree. The spot was secluded, not the kind of place someone would leave a dog if they hoped she’d be found. It was clear this wasn’t a mistake. And if the dog hadn’t been barking, there’s no way anyone would’ve stumbled across her.
Janet didn’t know what to expect when she spotted the chain. She feared she’d have to go back for bolt cutters, but luckily the chain had only been clipped with a carabiner. That small mercy allowed Janet to free the dog right then and there. She gently brought the dog home and contacted the BC SPCA.
No one knows how the dog ended up there. Her body showed no signs of long-term neglect. There were no deep collar marks or signs that she’d been left there for days on end. That only added to the mystery. Why would someone leave behind a dog in such good condition in such a dangerous, isolated place?
The area wasn’t just remote—it bordered a wildfire zone. If she hadn’t cried out, she might never have been found at all. And even then, the timing had to be perfect.
Janet gave her the name Eve, after her own middle name. It felt right. There was something resilient and soulful about the dog, something that made you feel she had more to offer this world than what she had been handed so far.
Eve was soon picked up by the SPCA and brought in for a full veterinary check-up. She’ll be available for adoption once she’s cleared. For now, she’s safe and surrounded by people who care about what happens next.
Her story still has no clear answers. No one has come forward to claim her, and no one has explained how she ended up alone in the woods. But that doesn’t matter anymore. What matters now is where she goes from here.
Eve is ready for a new beginning. And this time, she won’t be left behind. Please visit I Love My Dog to read more stories about animal rescues. We share news that matters!