Ghost Dog: The Wild Hound of Prospect Park
Capturing him was a long process. It began at 5:30 in the morning on Wednesday, May 16th. Casey and his group worked with a man who had been feeding him in the morning; the man had formed some sort of trust with the animal (later at the shelter, after fearing he had betrayed the dog, subjecting him to the toils of captivity, he was relieved as Ghost Dog nuzzled his leg affectionately). During his normal morning feeding, the animal workers formed a perimeter around the dog. Slowly they pressed closer to him. They moved slowly, their actions deliberate and calculated, so as not to spook him. They distracted Ghost Dog with another mastiff—he always loved the company of other dogs—and distracted them both with treats. They moved their equipment around the dog gradually so that it wouldn’t startle him. Eventually, one of the workers had a clear shot of the dog and managed to get a noose around his neck. Ghost Dog put up a fight. He nearly broke the noose pole wrapped around his neck, and it was only with the aid of a second pole that the team was able to get him into the van.
The dog was taken to the veterinarian’s, and within the twenty-minute drive, he had calmed down enough to let Casey pet him.
For the most part, Ghost Dog is healthy, in better shape than many dogs his age. He has a knee injury that will require surgery and he has tested positive for Lyme disease. He lives at a shelter now, and eventually, after surgery and after he is better acclimated to domesticity, Casey hopes he will be adopted. He has many admirers, and many fans.