On 11/23/18, what started as a family Holiday vacation, became a living nightmare for Kris and Cassie Asleson. While getting ready to head out for some Black Friday shopping, they were getting into their car in the parking lot of their hotel in Cottage Grove, OR. Anna, their recent rescue dog, got spooked and jumped out of the car. Getting further spooked by the unfamiliar surroundings and the sounds of traffic on the nearby I-5, she ran into the surrounding woods. This was just the beginning of an on-going battle to save Anna.

Anna had arrived in WA only 6 weeks earlier. She had been found as a stray, living in the woods for months, by a rescue group in Texas. Because of the overcrowding in the Texas shelters, the best way to save her life was to transport her to an area that had a lower population of homeless dogs. Another rescue organization in Portland was able to bring her to Portland. They posted her picture and a call for a foster or forever home on their website. Cassie saw her picture only 1 hour after scheduling the euthanasia for her much beloved white pit bull, Roxy. Grieving, Cassie knew it was fate, and immediately contacted the rescue agency. The 6-month-old was extremely timid and spent the most of the first two weeks in her crate, only coming out if Cassie climbed into her crate with her. She was only just getting used to her name. 

For the next 18 days Cassie and Kris spent 15 hours a day driving around Cottage Grove, posting flyers, updating their newly created Facebook Group, Bring Anna Home, and connecting with as many of the citizens of Cottage Grove as possible. Their new adopted community of Cottage Grove citizens who came together to search for Anna and to provide support to Kris and Cassie - especially when they were forced to return to Vancouver for Kris' work, kept the two going and gave them hope when they were at their lowest.

The first couple of days provided a few sightings, and then nothing. Then, through second- and third-hand stories, that Anna had been found. But instead of doing the right (and legal) thing, these people sold her to another family. Worse, they refused to tell anyone who they sold her, too. Just when Kris and Cassie began to feel the most despondent, Cassie being unable to work due to the stress and feelings of hopelessness, the Cottage Grove community, once again, banded together, and placed pressure where it needed to be placed, and suddenly there was a sighting, and a group effort resulted in the reunion of Anna with her forever grateful parents.

As happy as they are to have their puppy back, it's still not the end of the road. Anna has multiple fractures to her hip, pelvis, tibia, and femur. Her knee is so damaged that her leg will have to be amputated, and she will require months of physical therapy. It is not known at this time if the injuries occurred as the result of a single accident or were the result of abuse over her weeks away. With Cassie having been unable to work due to the search for Anna, and the unexpected vet bills, they are asking for help in paying these bills.

At this time they only have estimates of what the expenses will be. They are continuing to work with their vet, Orchard Hills Animal Hospital, as well as an orthopedic specialist at Columbia River Veterinary Specialists to determine the next steps. But all of this costs money. Anna's well-being is the only thing that matters to Cassie and Kris at this time, but they need your help in this. Please consider donating.

You can read about the past history and see current updates at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bringannahome/

Here are two articles from the Cottage Grove Sentinel covering this story:

The Search for Ana

Community Rallies to Bring Anna Home