ohmidog!

After eight years of living on her own in a field in Kansas, Ditch Dog has come in out of the cold.

Nobody knew where D.D., as she’s called, came from. She didn’t let people near her — not even when one of her legs got looped through her collar, and she limped around on three legs until the collar rotted. Even, then, she kept walking on three legs for another year, apparently having grown used to it.

Ditch Dog did accept the donations of food and water that residents of Buhler, week after week, year after year, provided.

But not until last month did she allow a human to get close, make friends and take her home, according to Hutchinson News reporter Kathy Hanks:

After all these years, the elusive creature …has finally come indoors to the home of Rachelle Cavanaugh, just in time for the cold weather. Cavanaugh believes D.D. was ready … “She didn’t want to live like that anymore,” Cavanaugh said.

The wiry-haired dog, who’s also missing her tail, avoided being picked up for violating Buhler’s leash laws by staying outside town limits, on the county side of the road.

Cavanaugh began trying to get close to D.D. more than a year ago. She began leaving treats with medicine to help the dog with what Cavanaugh suspected was arthritis, and put flea medicine in her food. One night, when Cavanaugh sat by the food dish, D.D. approached and let Cavanaugh touch her.

“She was starving for attention,” Cavanaugh said.

Recently, Cavanaugh was able to get D.D. to jump in her car. She drover her around town, put a leash on her and introduced her to her other three dogs before returning her to her field.

She arranged for a vet to come to the field and give D.D. shots.

And about a month ago, D.D. moved in with Cavanaugh.

“She has some wicked scars,” Cavanaugh said, and she still seems to get anxious at night, at which time she seeks out her pillow.

Cavanaugh left a sign in the field where D.D. once lived, in case people in Buhler start wondering why she’s no longer there. It reads:

“Buhler: Thank you for all the years of care and concern. I have found a home and I am adjusting. God bless you, Ditch Dog.”

(Photo: Lindsey Bauman / Hutchinson News)