Labrador Found Alone in Woods 'Slowly Dying Without Any Hope in Sight'

A young dog was found in a distressing condition, scared and alone in an area of woodland in Washington state.

The plight of Timber the eight-month-old Labrador retriever was first highlighted by The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, which shared footage on social media outlining his plight. According to the video, posted to TikTok, Timber was discovered alone in an area of woodland in Eatonville on April 3 "slowly dying without any hope in sight."

Timber was initially picked up by Pierce County Animal Control. He was already incapacitated and unable to walk unaided, meaning he had to be carried to safety and the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, where he received urgent medical attention from onsite veterinarians.

Lauren Green, from the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, said the dog was in a "dire condition" when he was first found. "Timber had sunken eyes, lethargy, severe dehydration, and an elevated heart rate," she said.

Once at the shelter, the true gravity of Timber's situation became clear for all involved as he tested positive for parvovirus, a deadly and contagious virus that targets the gastrointestinal system.

Darin Collins, chief executive officer of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Health Foundation told Newsweek: "Canine parvovirus, or parvo, is a very contagious virus that affects all dogs, but puppies younger than four months and unvaccinated dogs are at the most risk of contracting this virus.

"Parvovirus affects a dog's gastrointestinal tract and is spread by direct contact between dogs, and contact with contaminated feces, people or environments."

Had Timber not been found when he was then he could easily have died.

'Just in Time'

"Once infected, immediate medical intervention is required to give the dog a fighting chance against the disease," Green said. "Timber came to our care just in time to receive treatment and begin on the road to recovery.

"We don't know how Timber ended up alone in the woods, but we are so glad that with the support from our compassionate community, we can be there for pets like Timber when they need help most."

Despite the life-saving intervention, Timber's recovery is still ongoing.

"Timber may be out of the forest, but he's not out of the woods yet," Green said. "Despite the long road ahead, he has maintained a gentle demeanor and cooperation throughout his treatments."

There have already been some encouraging developments, with Timber showing a level of improvement in his day-to-day health that convinced the shelter to place him in a foster home and a setting that will improve his chances of making a full recovery.

Foster carers play a crucial role in helping give some dogs an alternative to the standard shelter setting. It's a setting where their carers can gain a clearer understanding of what home would suit them best. It's also one where the dogs involved receive the necessary one-on-one attention to boost their overall wellbeing and, with it, their chances of adoption.

With a 2018 study published in Applied Animal Behavior Science concluding that 15 minutes of one-on-one petting with a shelter dog was enough to boost their overall wellbeing, you can only imagine what an extended stay in a foster home might provide.

The good news for Timber is that, all being well, he may be available for adoption very soon.

"If Timber makes a full recovery, he may be neutered and available for adoption as early as the end of the month," Green said. "Like all the deserving pets at our shelter, Timber would thrive with any family looking to welcome a furry companion into their life!"

In the meantime, anyone wanting to keep track of Timber's progress can do so on the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County website.