Ela Highway Department Crew Saves Dog, Receives Commendation

A crew from the Ela Township Highway Department was clearing brush and debris in Kildeer on March 10 after damaging winds swept through the area when they discovered an elderly dog in the roadway in dire need of rescue.

Ryan Serkowski, Josh Saubert, Kevin Eltz and Justin Knoll immediately dropped what they were doing and sprung into action to aid the blind and deaf dog named Molly, who had wandered away from her home on Hampton Court.

Just as the men were trying to comfort the dog and determine where she lived, Kildeer Village President Nandia Black was driving by, taking her son to school. She recognized the dog as belonging to her neighbors. Despite her handicaps, Molly had wandered from Hampton Court to Hickory Hill Drive and was approaching Cuba Road.

Serkowski said the dog was lying in the road, scared and shivering.

"We knew it was in some kind of distress, but we didn't know (at the time) it was blind and deaf," said Saubert.

Black directed the crew to Molly's home, where she was happily reunited with her worried owners.

"They carried her back home. I just thought this was really a wonderful thing they did," said Black. "You appreciate seeing people take out time to show compassion and care for another living being. To see four hunky men doing something so sensitive and kind just warmed my heart. I said we have to recognize them and Ela Highway Commissioner Bill Kruckenberg for hiring them."

The Ela Highway Department crew received the following special commendation from the Kildeer Village Board at its March 21 meeting:

WHEREAS, under the direction of Bill Kruckenberg, the Ela Township Highway Department consists of outstanding professionals who perform a variety of essential services for the Village of Kildeer; and

WHEREAS, while performing services in the Village of Kildeer one bitterly cold winter day, a crew from the Ela Township Highway Department saw an elderly dog in the road right of way displaying signs of severe distress; and

WHEREAS, the Ela Township crew stopped their work to rescue the dog which wandered away from its home many hours earlier and could not return because it was blind; and

WHEREAS, the Ela Township crew made up of the following individuals- Ryan Serkowski, Josh Saubert, Justin Knoll and Kevin Eltz was able to save the dog and return it to the grateful owner.

NOW THEREFORE, the President and Board of Trustees express their special gratitude to the Ela Township Highway Department crew who demonstrated great care and concern when saving the life of a Kildeer resident's believe pet.