Michael Ortega and Allen Au, both engineers for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, were navigating between Galesburg, Illinois, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, when they received an unexpected instruction.

A Good Samaritan had alerted authorities about a dog tied to a railcar in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

The dispatcher informed them that the dog was seen on a flatbed car, typically used for transporting lumber and sheetrock. However, upon their arrival, there was no immediate sign of the dog.

“We moved slowly along the train and eventually found a lumber car,” Au recounted to The Dodo. “But as we passed, nothing was visible.”

Determined to solve the mystery, Au hopped off the train for a closer inspection. Climbing atop the flatbed car, he discovered a small brown dog, visibly shaking and fastened to a steel beam with a short chain.

The pup was surrounded by a pile of spoiled food beyond its reach and had no water.

“The dog’s food had shifted away, and recent rains had turned it into a mushy, inedible mess,” Au explained. This was a first for Au, even with 13 years of railway experience.

As Au beckoned Ortega, the duo carefully approached the frightened animal and brought her to the safety of their locomotive cabin. “Her tail wagged, a miraculous gesture given her plight,” Ortega shared with The Dodo.

The train, originating in Willmar, Minnesota, was destined for Kansas City, Missouri. Realizing the dog had likely been trapped on the moving train for several days, Au expressed his disbelief.

“Leaving a dog on a moving train, reaching speeds of 70 miles an hour, is unimaginable,” Au remarked.

Moved by the dog’s plight, the engineers named her Lulu. They fed her the food they had and provided her much-needed water, which she consumed eagerly.

Knowing they couldn’t abandon her again to uncertainty, Ortega made a promise: “If you don’t adopt her, I will,” he declared with conviction.

Ortega, who envisioned his own pets in Lulu’s predicament, was determined to give her a better life. That night, he made an important call to his wife, who promptly agreed to welcome Lulu.

The very next day, Ortega’s wife met them to take Lulu to her new home.

Once there, Lulu was watched over like a new child. “It was touching; she’s such a good girl,” Ortega reflected. Lulu seamlessly adapted to her new surroundings and three canine companions, soon revealing her playful nature.

“They play together, sharing toys, and it’s heartwarming to witness — this is how life should be,” Ortega commented. “It feels as though she’s always been part of our family.”

While destiny might have placed Lulu in Ortega’s path, the family feels deeply fortunate. “She’s where she belongs, with us,” Ortega concluded. “We’re truly blessed to have her.”