Ready with a trap, the crewmen didn’t have to use it. They found the dog on board and put him inside a portable kennel, said Chief Petty Officer Tyler Johnson.

Insiko 1907 was drifting today about 100 miles of Johnston Atoll. This Coast Guard photo was taken Wednesday and released today.

“The dog was on the deck and they grabbed it,” Johnson said.

Pam Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society said the dog was said to be shaky, but it did not appear to have any wounds and was in fairly good condition.

Johnson said the female mixed-breed white terrier would be moved later today to the tugboat American Quest after crewmen complete rigging operations aboard the tanker Insiko 1907 to get it ready for towing.

The Coast Guard had sent the tugboat to prepare to move the tanker away from Johnston Atoll out of concern that it would break open and spill its 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel near the island, which is U.S. territory.

Dog evaded crew

Forgea had not been seen since Monday when she scampered below deck to evade fishermen from Honolulu trying to coax her off the ship.

The Insiko had been drifting about in the Pacific, hundreds of miles southwest of Honolulu and today was within 100 miles of Johnston Atoll, according to the Coast Guard.

Linda Haller, director of shelter operations for the Hawaiian Humane Society, said the American Quest crew had planned to set a trap for the dog but would make no effort to pursue Forgea.

Body recovery to be attempted

The tug crew now will attempt to recover the remains of an Insiko crewman who died in a March 13 fire that disabled the tanker and left it without communications. His body is believed to be in the flooded engine room.

The rest of the ship’s crew was rescued April 2 by the luxury cruise ship Norwegian Star, but Forgea was left behind.
The Coast Guard has been in communication with the family of the dead crewman to determine their wishes if the remains are recovered, said Lt. DesaRae Atnip, public affairs officer.

Tanker may be sunk

The Coast Guard is considering towing the tanker to deep water and sinking it at a depth of about three miles, Atnip said. At that depth, the 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard would dissipate before reaching the surface, she said.

A final decision on what to do with the derelict tanker is expected early next week, she said.

Three animal care experts enlisted by the Humane Society had planned to leave this weekend to try to rescue the dog.

Besides Haller, the team was to include David Pauli, director of the regional office of the Humane Society of the United States in Billings, Mont., and Dr. Rebecca Rhoades, a veterinarian and executive director of the Kauai Humane Society.

They were taking a stun gun but were hoping not to have to use it.

Dog to be quarantined

Forgea will be brought to Hawai'i and placed in quarantine on Kaua'i, where a smaller facility will allow staff to give it more attention, Rhoades said. Most pets arriving in Hawaii are kept in Honolulu’s large quarantine facility, where they remain in pens for up to four months.

The dog was the pet of Chung Chin Po of the Insiko, and friends of Chung in Honolulu have said they want to adopt Forgea if Chung is unable to take her to Taiwan, Rhoades said.

A previous rescue attempt cost the Hawaii Humane Society $48,000. The Coast Guard tapped an environmental protection fund once the tanker reached U.S. waters near Johnston Atoll.

Rhoades and the others defended the cost, which the local Humane Society said has been covered by donations and funds from the national society.

“This case reminds us all of compassion and respect,” she said. “It is our duty to try to rescue this dog. The Humane Society’s mission is to prevent animal suffering and rescue.”

Advertiser staff writer Karen Blakeman contributed to this report.