Finding Jax a home

A male collie who survived the cold winter months marooned on a Mississippi River island near Red Wing will not have a hard time finding a warm, loving home when he is ready for adoption next week.

Goodhue County Humane Society volunteers have received more than 40 calls from people interested in Jax, a young dog found clinging to a log in the river's fast-moving current.

Fishermen coaxed the wet, tired, cold and hungry animal into their boat and handed him over to humane society volunteers who gave him a new moniker and have since begun nursing him back to health.

Volunteers had been curious about how the seemingly well-trained and well-behaved dog became stranded.

The dog's previous owners - who lived in Wisconsin - recently came forward and contacted the humane society, explaining they could no longer take care of the dog so they found it another home.

The dog wandered off within hours of being dropped off with his new owners, who also lived somewhere in Wisconsin.

"He was there and then he was gone," said Linda Niebeling, humane society volunteer. "He was gone for a least two months, maybe more."

It appears Jax lived on land south of Island Campground but was forced into the river as floodwaters closed in on him.

Jax was covered in ticks and burrs when he arrived at the humane society. A groomer had to shave him and he's been put on antibiotics to ward off any possibility of disease from his time outdoors.

"He's doing well now," Niebeling said. "He loves all the attention."

Niebeling said volunteers will wait until April 5 to put Jax up for adoption to make sure he is 100 percent healthy.

"People who really want to adopt him will call back," Niebeling said.

Niebeling said the dog's previous owners said he loved children.

Humane society volunteers will look over applications and decide which home suits Jax best.

"We want to make sure we find him a good home," Neibeling said. "He seems like he needs a lot of attention. He's such a sweetheart."

Anyone interested in adopting Jax can call the Humane Society after April 5 at (651) 388-5286.

Tags: local news, goodhue county humane society, red wing, news, jax