GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A dog known as Connie the Container Dog is living a happier life right here in Maryland following a heroic rescue by the Coast Guard.
On January 31, around 9 a.m. four Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston marine inspectors were conducting routine container inspections at Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal. Suddenly, the guards heard barking and scratching coming from one of the containers.
Petty Officer 1st Class Lucas Loe, Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan McMahon, Petty Officer 3rd Class Byran Wainscott, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jose Reyes searched high and low to locate where the noises were coming from. They were able to pinpoint a container located in a five-container stack.
Port Houston personnel lowered the container and as the petty officers pried the doors open, out popped a Golden Retriever. Covered in grime, thirsty, and a wee bit shy, she appeared ecstatic to see humans.
The Coast Guardsmen gave her water and took her to Pasadena Animal Shelter for further care. On their drive there the Guardsmen named the cute puppy, Connie the Container Dog.
The container she was found in had totaled cars inside and was set to be shipped to Dubai. It came from the Houston-Galveston area and had been in the terminal for eight days, which means Connie was trapped there for at least that long. Officials believe she may have been living in a junkyard or inside one of the cars and had been placed in the container by accident.
Connie The Container Dog
Connie spent a short time in Pasadena before being “flewed out” on a private plane from Houston to Virginia on February 6. Of course, her prince charmings (Coast Guardsmen rescuers) had to see her off. As if this story wasn’t already a fairytale, Forever Changed Animal Rescue staff informed the rescuers that Connie is pregnant!
She endured and survived a lot living in that shipping container. But staff say her puppies' heartbeats are strong and healthy. Now, Connie is being fostered by Andrea Deoudes, a veterinarian and founder of Forever Changed Animal Rescue located in Gaithersburg.
