Senior Dog Found Stranded in Canal with Almost 'No Chance of Survival' Recovers and Gets the 'Best Life'

Dorothea the dog, who is a 10-year-old Chihuahua mix, was rescued by the Arizona Humane Society and the Phoenix Fire Department

A senior dog has found her forever home after being rescued from the middle of a canal in Arizona.

Dorothea — who is a 10-year-old Chihuahua mix — was brought to safety by the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) on June 16 after being found on top of a shopping cart partially submerged in the water, the animal shelter said in a Monday, Oct. 28 press release obtained by PEOPLE.

Calling Dorothea's journey "an incredible story of resilience and survival," AHS said that if it weren't for AHS Emergency Animal Medical Technician (EAMT) Hunter Stribling and the Phoenix Fire Department, the pup "would have [had] little to no chance of survival."

The organization added in its release that the pooch is "now living her best life with her forever family" in Youngtown, Ariz.

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AHS — founded in 1957 — recalled Dorothea's rescue, "Dispatchers were alerted to a dog in distress by a Good Samaritan who spotted her stuck in the middle of a canal laying on top of a shopping cart."

The shelter added that "knowing time was of the essence," Stribling and the Phoenix Fire team then "arrived on scene and quickly devised a plan to save the pup."

"Using a ladder and various AHS rescue devices to get her up to safety, the sweet senior pup was all tail wags when she was finally ashore," AHS said.

The shelter continued, "Scared but open to receiving help, Dorothea was given a quick medical assessment on AHS's Pet Ambulance where she was found to be dehydrated, hungry, covered in ticks, and a bit stinky from the canal water," confirming she was then taken to AHS's Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital for a "more thorough exam."

The pooch was in "great health given the circumstances," AHS said, adding that she was just treated for minor injuries, as well as having "some dental work to remove a couple of fractured teeth."

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The "sweet, loving girl" who enjoys "cuddles and attention from people" was treated to a spa day with an AHS groomer before eventually moving in with her new family.

"Although it is unknown how long or why she was there in the canal, Dorothea's incredible story highlights the lifesaving work that the Arizona Humane Society is able to accomplish as it cares for almost 22,000 pets each year," AHS said.

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Dorothea's sweet story comes after 2-year-old Weimaraner mix Nova became one of AHS's many rescues in January after getting stuck in the engine of a '67 Chevy Nova in Phoenix. The pup ended up in a sticky situation after chasing a cat under the vehicle.

It took the EAMTs about 15 minutes to carefully free Nova's limbs from the car's engine area. Once Nova's paws were free, the rescuers could gently pull the dog out of the strange spot.

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