While traveling from Galesburg, Illinois, to La Crosse, Wisconsin, railway engineers Michael Ortega and Allen Au received an unexpected message from their dispatcher. A concerned bystander had reported a dog tied to a railcar that was stationary in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.
Upon their arrival, the engineers were instructed that the dog, thought to be atop a flat car typically used for transporting lumber, was nowhere in sight. Au was determined to investigate further. He climbed onto the flat car and discovered a small, shivering brown dog chained to a beam without any water and unable to reach a pile of spoiled dog food.
Describing the situation, Au told The Dodo, “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.” Wet and mushy due to recent rains, the food was inedible. This was new territory for Au, who, despite hearing tales of such cruelty, had never encountered it in his 13 years on the railroad. He called Ortega for help, and together they carefully brought the frightened pup back to their cabin.
Ortega noticed something heartwarming. “Her little tail was wagging,” he recalled to The Dodo, “which was amazing after all she’d been through.”
The train had been en route from Willmar, Minnesota, to Kansas City, Missouri, which meant Lulu, as the engineers named her, likely endured two or three days of distress. Au couldn’t fathom how someone could abandon a dog on a moving train that could reach speeds of 70 miles per hour.
Determined to give Lulu a better life, Ortega decided, “If you don’t adopt her I will,” he declared to Au, moved by the ordeal Lulu had faced. With his wife’s agreement, Ortega made a decision during a stopover that Lulu would join their family.
That first night at home, Ortega and his wife watched over Lulu attentively, much like new parents with their first child. Ortega shared, “We stayed with her, watching her. It was just so sweet, she’s a very good girl.”
Lulu quickly adapted, forming bonds with her three new dog siblings. She began revealing her playful side, joining in games and sharing toys. “They all play and bring toys to one another, and it’s awesome to watch because that’s how it should be,” Ortega said warmly. “She fits right in. It’s like she came into our home and she’s been there the entire time.”
Reflecting on the serendipitous turn of events, Ortega remarked, “She belongs here with us, and we’re very blessed to have her.”
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