Railway Heroes Rescue A Terrified Puppy Found Chained To A Moving Train In Wisconsin
Michael Ortega and Allen Au started their day expecting an ordinary shift on the railway, traveling their usual route between Galesburg, Illinois, and La Crosse, Wisconsin.
But their routine was interrupted by an urgent call from the dispatcher, one that would change everything.
Word had come in that a dog had been spotted chained to a flat rail car in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The car had been hauling lumber and sheetrock, and while the train had briefly stopped, no one knew if the dog was still there.
Michael and Allen rushed to the scene, but at first saw nothing. They drove along the train until Allen saw a lumber car at the very end. Once he climbed up, his heart sank.
Huddled against a steel beam was a small brown pup, shaking with fear. She had been chained so tightly that she couldn’t reach the food someone had left for her.
The rain had ruined it anyway, leaving it soaked and inedible. She had no water, no shelter, and had likely been trapped there for days.
The sight was nothing short of heartbreaking. Allen shared in an interview:
“They had left food for the dog up on the train, but it had shifted all to one side, so the dog couldn’t get to it. For the majority of the past few days it had been raining up here, so all the food was wet, soaked, and looked like mush.”
In his 13 years working on the railway, Allen had heard of situations like this but had never witnessed something so cruel firsthand. He continued:
“You can’t just leave a dog on the train; some of those trains go 70 miles an hour. And it wasn’t one of those trains that was sitting in a yard – it was a train that had actually been moving.”
Michael and Allen carefully unchained the trembling dog and lifted her to safety. What touched them most was her response.
Despite everything she had endured, the little dog wagged her tail happily, as though she knew help had finally come.
They later learned she had probably been trapped for two or three long days before being found. To them, it was unthinkable.
The men named her Lulu, and the moment she was given food and water, it was clear she was desperate to survive. But the story didn’t end there.
Michael, moved by the whole experience, looked at Allen and said, “If you don’t adopt her, I will.” He later explained:
“I have pets at home, and I pictured that it was one of them tied to that car – I just couldn’t understand or fathom what she’s gone through. We had the means to take her in, and she’s just the best little pup, so sweet and loving.”
And so, Lulu’s new life began. Michael and his wife brought her home and showered her with love, comfort, and safety.
They watched over her closely, making sure she felt secure in her new world. Michael shared:
“She belongs here with us. And we’re very blessed to have her.”
From being chained to a moving train to curling up in the warmth of her forever home, Lulu’s story shows the good that happens when people refuse to turn away.
