JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Two weekends before Thanksgiving, one local man's efforts to rescue a lost boxer finally paid off.
The boxer, named Penny, was surrendered by her owners three years ago, but then she escaped shortly after and ran into the woods.
During her three years in the wild, she survived the two major hurricanes of Matthew and Irma, along with Florida's brutal heat and a constant search for food and water.
Steve Smedley is a rescue volunteer for Boxer Aid and Rescue Coalition, Inc., or B.A.R.C. He tried multiple ways to try and catch her to bring her to safety, but Penny escaped his efforts over the past several months, including climbing out of a 6-foot tall cage that she had entered into.
Despite daily surveillance cameras and multiple traps, Penny seemed to always get away. Finally, this past Saturday, she was captured and after just a brief few minutes, seemed relieved .
"When we got the blanket off her she walked into the crate on her own," said Smedley.
Dr. Erin Coello works for River City Veterinary Partners, a brand new mobile practice that solely works with rescue organizations.
She says Penny is unique for the very fact that she survived all this time on her own