Daina Lapworth wasn't expecting to rescue a dog from the ditch next to the highway, but after several weeks of effort she managed to capture the six-month old puppy and give her a second chance at life.

Daina was traveling home on July 22 to La Ronge, Saskatchewan, when she thought she spotted a fox. As she drove by, she noticed the animal had a red collar on. She right away stopped her car and jumped out to try and get a closer look at the dog. But as she approached, the dog got scared and ran off.

Daina went back home and asked if anyone else had encountered the dog. She posted her question on local Facebook pages and several people responded and said they had. One man said he saw had spotted the dog two months earlier but had assumed she lived in the area.

Daina immediately knew it was up to her to rescue the dog, so she contacted Saskatchewan Environment Resource Management and they lent her a coyote trap to help to catch the dog.

Daina placed the trap out where she had last seen the dog, but after several weeks of no luck, she decided to move it somewhere else. Last Thursday, she arrived to take the trap and as luck would have it, she found the dog inside!

“When we went to move it, it was in the middle of a thunderstorm and the dog was actually in the trap. That was pretty exciting," she told the Daily Herald.

The dog was extremely frightened and growled and peed when she approached her, having been so long fending for herself.

When Daina got home and closely examined the stray dog, she could see the female dog was in bad shape with mange, swollen paws and skin and bones. Daina knew she needed help.

She uploaded photos to Facebook and within just a few minutes two rescues Cause 4 Paws and We All Need A Rescue - out of Saskatoon - contacted her and said they wanted to help.

The puppy was taken to the vet for care and was treated for a high fever and her other health problems. Daina thought at the time, the dog probably should have been humanely put down, but quickly changed her mind and thought the pup did not "go through hell...just to be put down."

Now in a foster home, Nina (as she has been named) is recovering quickly. Nina's foster mom said the puppy has lots of personality and is full of life. Nina's got some further healing to do but thanks to Daina's selfless actions and the support of the rescues, the dog who lived much of her short life by the highway now has a chance at finding a loving home.

Update: 

Nina has been adopted by her foster mom! Thanks for the update Daina Lapworth! 

• Saskatchewan
• La Roche