The Wholesome Rescue of a Poor Dog With a Snack Jar Stuck on Its Head
People in rural Pennsylvania couldn’t ignore the sight of a young dog stumbling around with a giant plastic jar covering her head. Somehow, she kept moving even though she couldn’t eat, drink, or breathe freely. For two tense days, neighbors and volunteers searched the fields and woods around Dillsburg, hoping to catch her before exhaustion did.
The dog turned out to be a 1-year-old Shepherd Collie mix. The jar had slid all the way down to her collarbone, wedged so tightly that she had no chance of getting it off on her own. Janelle George from the Canine Rescue of Central PA (CRCPA) explained that she had likely gotten trapped while digging through trash for food. Already thin, tick-covered, and abandoned to survive on her own, she was running out of time. As George put it, it was a wonder she had lasted as long as she had.
The Search Grows Urgent
Rescuers knew time was running out. The Canine Rescue of Central PA called in Find Toby in PA, a volunteer group with experience in locating missing pets. From that moment, the search never let up. Crews worked in shifts, handing responsibility from one group to the next late into the night.
Open fields and thick woods slowed their progress. Spotting one small dog in that kind of landscape was nearly impossible. That’s when drone operators stepped in with thermal cameras, giving the team a view from above. The jar had left her unable to eat or drink, and every hour mattered. Either she was found quickly, or she wouldn’t survive.
A Breakthrough at 3 A.M.
In the early hours of Wednesday, drone pilot Dallas Fuhrman finally picked up a heat signature in the middle of a cornfield. When the team closed in, they found the dog staggering, still trapped inside the jar, and too weak to put up much resistance. The volunteers worked quickly to restrain her, then carried her out of the field and drove straight to Shores Veterinary Emergency Center.
At the clinic, her condition was clear: she was dehydrated, underweight, and crawling with ticks. The outlook wasn’t good, yet her blood tests told a different story. The numbers showed a strength that surprised the staff, and they described her as resilient. Care started immediately, with small amounts of food and water given as her body adjusted. Plans were also set in motion to move her into a foster home where she could begin to heal in safety.
A Name With a Story
Image via Pexels/Helena Lopes
The rescued pup soon got a name that captured both her struggle and her rescue. She became Dallas Cheddar. Thanks to Dallas, the drone pilot who found her, and Cheddar, the cheese ball jar that caused her ordeal. At first, rescuers thought it was a pretzel container, but once they got closer, the truth gave her story an unexpected twist.
George joked about the discovery, saying, “Oh, she likes cheddar cheese balls.” The name stuck, and with it, Dallas Cheddar finally had an identity to go along with her new chance at life.
Recovery and Community Kindness
Dallas Cheddar is now safe in a foster home and receiving medical care. There, she has plenty of good food and rest. Her story has already captured attention and support from across the community. Followers can track her recovery on CRCPA’s Facebook page and even contribute donations to help cover her care, from vaccines and toys to a cozy bed.
Adding to the good news, Hanover Foods, the company behind the cheese balls, announced it would cover her veterinary expenses. They shared that the decision stemmed from their love of dogs and their appreciation for the community that worked so hard to save her.